Singh Takes his Second over Daly

John Daly surged up the leaderboard Sunday with a stunning 67, but he dunked his ball when it mattered, and Vijay Singh walked easily to victory for his second straight Shell Houston Open victory and his third in four years.

Daly birdied the final two holes for his 67 to match Singh at -13 (275). His drive – with a fairway metal no less – dove left, bounced hard, and trickled into the water ont he first playoff hole. After blasting his third shot over the green, Daly had a 10-footer left for bogey when Singh tapped in for his par and the tournament victory.

Singh overcame some putter problems en route to his 70. His tee shot on the playoff hole – played well to the right – found an opening in the sparse trees, and his two-putt from the front of the green locked up his second PGA Tour victory of the year just days after it was announced that he was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame.

José Maria Olazabel shot 70 to finish at -11, one better than Darren Clarke (67) and Greg Owen (72). Joe Ogilvie, who’s been playing well this year, hung in at -9 after a 71. Gavin Coles, the third-round co-leader, slipped to a 75 and a total of -8.

Singh started tied for Coles, but couldn’t keep a surging John Daly down. His putting problems included a missed four-footer on the second, and his putting was spotty the rest of the round. He missed an eight-footer at the last to secure the victory in regulation. His putt for par in overtime was only 18 inches, and unlike before, he made this one.

Daly began the day three shots off the lead and birdied three but bogeyed two on the front nine, but turned things around with a birde at the twelfth. He birdied the par-5 15th after driving into the trees, punching out, and knocking his third shot to four feet. His approach to 17 was within 4½ feet of the pin, and he holed the putt. His final birdie at the 72nd hole came from nine feet away.

Vijay Singh will remain the #2 player in the world. That’s what he gets for winning tournament with such a weak field.

Pos  Player               Today    Tot    R1    R2    R3    R4    Tot
1*   Vijay Singh           -2      -13    64    71    70    70    275
2    John Daly             -5      -13    68    67    73    67    275
3    Jose Maria Olazabal   -2      -11    70    67    70    70    277
T4   Darren Clarke         -5      -10    71    69    71    67    278
T4   Greg Owen              E      -10    67    69    70    72    278
6    Joe Ogilvie           -1       -9    68    67    73    71    279
T7   Lucas Glover          -5       -8    70    71    72    67    280
T7   Bo Van Pelt           -2       -8    69    68    73    70    280
T7   Brian Davis           -2       -8    71    69    70    70    280
T7   Jeff Maggert          -1       -8    67    68    74    71    280
T7   Kent Jones            -1       -8    70    71    68    71    280
T7   Gavin Coles           +3       -8    65    69    71    75    280
* Won on first hole of playoff with a par.

Photo Credit: © AP Photo/David J. Phillip.