Vijay Singh's woes -- Augusta greens and Woods

Vijay Singh's woes -- Augusta greens and Woods
Larry Fine

AUGUSTA, April 3: Vijay Singh has more on his mind this week than just following up his brilliant U.S. Masters triumph last year with a good performance. There is also the matter of stopping world number one Tiger Woods completing a sweep of golf’s four Major championships at this year’s tournament, starting on Thursday. “Woods has to try and get all four,” Singh said after his practice round on Monday. “It’s hard to win just one.”

Woods won the last three Majors of 2000 the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, the British Open at St Andrews and the U.S. PGA championship at Valhalla in record fashion.

Woods comes to Augusta National with the goal of becoming the first to hold all four Majors at the same time. “He’s phenomenal, but we’re going to try and stop him,” said Singh, who won last year’s Masters by three shots over South African Ernie Els. Woods was fifth, six strokes behind. Woods has won his last two tournaments, edging out Singh by a stroke at The Players Championship, but the 38-year-old Fijian has been the second hottest player in the world and is eager to do battle. “It’s pretty exciting. I’ve been looking forward to it the whole year,” Singh said. “Finally it’s here. It’s a new tournament this week. You have to forget about what happened last year.”

Singh will have at least one occasion to look back, however, when he hosts the traditional Champion’s Dinner before the tournament. The fare will be distinctly non-traditional as Singh has ordered Thai food for the menu served at Augusta National’s stately clubhouse. “We’re going to get some stomachs stirred up,” joked Singh.

Singh won last year’s tournament largely on the strength of an astonishing two-under 70 in a third round played in some of the worst weather to hit Augusta in recent Masters memory. By contrast to the violent winds that whipped through the stately pines of Augusta National in that challenging round, Monday’s warm-up was held in gentle weather with a warm sun peeking through the clouds.A chance of rain was predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday, but the long-range forecast was for sunny skies for the 94-man field on Thursday.

Faldo under pressure
AUGUSTA:Three-times Masters champion Nick Faldo conceded on Monday his experience on the Augusta course was becoming outweighed by the superior power of the younger generation.

The 43-year-old Briton, the only man besides Jack Nicklaus to retain the title, was asked after practice if he attacked the course in the same way as he had while winning the Masters in 1989 and 1990 and again in 1996. “Yes I do,” Faldo replied. “But unfortunately everyone else is driving 40 yards past me. Golf has changed, it’s become a power game now. I have to find the extra 40 yards to keep out there.”

Faldo was equally relaxed about this chances of making the European team for the biennial Ryder Cup clash with the United States this year.

He said because he was now playing fewer tournaments it was necessary to do well in the majors to gather enough points to make the team.