Vijay Singh: Profile of the 3-Time Major Champion

Vijay Singh was one of the best golfers in the world in the late 1990s into the 2000s and had one of the top winning seasons in recent golf history in 2004. He also set records for victories after turning age 40. He now plays on the Champions Tour.

Singh's Tour Wins and Majors

Singh won 34 PGA Tour events, making him one of just 16 golfers with 30 or more wins on the PGA Tour. He also is credited with 13 European Tour victories and four Champions Tour wins (his individual tournament wins are listed below).

In the major championships, Singh won three times — once in The Masters and twice in the PGA Championship.

Awards and Honors

• PGA Tour leading money winner, 2003, 2004
• PGA Tour Vardon Trophy winner, 2004
• 2004 PGA Tour Player of the Year
• Member, International team, Presidents Cup: 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009

Vijay Singh Biography

The older Vijay Singh got, the harder he seemed to work, and once he hit his 40s, the more he won. Singh's worth ethic is legendary, whether it's his physical workouts or the hours he spends each day hitting balls on the driving range and in short game areas.

And all that work paid off, especially after the turn of the millennium as Singh entered his 40s. In 2003, Singh posted 4 wins, 14 Top 10 finishes and led the PGA Tour in money. In 2004, he won 9 times, posted 18 Top 10s, won the Vardon Trophy, led the PGA Tour in money, and was named Player of the Year. It was best seasons in recent PGA Tour history.

Singh grew up in Fiji and was taught golf by his father, an airplane technician who moonlighted as a golf teacher. He turned pro in 1982 and won the Malaysian Open in 1984.

In 1985, he was embroiled in cheating allegations over an incident at an Asian Tour event. Singh was alleged to have altered his scorecard in an attempt to make a cut. Singh denied the allegations, but was suspended by the Asian Tour.

He spent time as a golf pro in Borneo, but also continued playing around the world. Eventually, he would win tournaments in more than 15 countries.

In 1988, he joined the European Tour, where he played full-time for five years. In 1993, he joined the U.S. PGA Tour and was named Rookie of the Year.

He contended often but won sporadically before breaking through for his first major, the 1998 PGA Championship. In 2000, he added a Masters title.

His career really took off in 2003 and was followed by the huge 2004 season. At one point in 2004, Singh made 12 Top 10s in a row, at the time the longest such streak since 1975. His 9 victories - which included his third major, the PGA - made him one of only six players in PGA Tour history to post nine or more wins in a single season. He also became the first golfer to earn $10 million in a single season.

When Singh opened 2007 with a victory at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, it was his 18th win since turning 40, breaking Sam Snead's record for most PGA Tour wins after age 40. Singh won three times in 2008, but injuries began slowing him down as he approached age 50 and he hasn't won since on the PGA Tour.

In his early 50s, Singh played sporadically on the Champions Tour. He notched his first senior win at the 2017 Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf (partnering Carlos Franco).

The Vijay Singh Charitable Foundation benefits charities and non-profits that assist and support women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.

List of Tournament Wins by Vijay Singh

These are the tournaments on major professional tours won by Singh:

PGA Tour (34)

• 1993 Buick Classic
• 1995 Phoenix Open
• 1995 Buick Classic
• 1997 Memorial Tournament
• 1997 Buick Open
• 1998 PGA Championship
• 1998 Sprint International
• 1999 Honda Classic
• 2000 Masters Tournament
• 2002 Shell Houston Open
• 2002 The Tour Championship
• 2003 Phoenix Open
• 2003 EDS Byron Nelson Championship
• 2003 John Deere Classic
• 2003 Funai Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort
• 2004 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
• 2004 Shell Houston Open
• 2004 HP Classic of New Orleans
• 2004 Buick Open
• 2004 PGA Championship
• 2004 Deutsche Bank Championship
• 2004 Bell Canadian Open
• 2004 84 Lumber Classic
• 2004 Chrysler Championship
• 2005 Sony Open in Hawaii
• 2005 Shell Houston Open
• 2005 Wachovia Championship
• 2005 Buick Open
• 2006 Barclays Classic
• 2007 Mercedes-Benz Championship
• 2007 Arnold Palmer Invitational
• 2008 WGC Bridgestone Invitational
• 2008 The Barclays
• 2008 Deutsche Bank Championship

European Tour (13)

• 1989 Volvo Open Championship
• 1990 El Bosque Open
• 1992 Turespana Masters Open de Andalucia
• 1992 Volvo German Open
• 1994 Scandinavian Masters
• 1994 Lancome Trophy
• 1997 South African Open
• 1998 PGA Championship
• 2000 Masters Tournament
• 2001 Carlsberg Malaysian Open
• 2001 Caltex Singapore Masters
• 2004 PGA Championship
• 2008 WGC Bridgestone Invitational

Asian Tour (5)

• 1995 Passport Open
• 2000 Johnnie Walker Taiwan Open
• 2001 Carlsberg Malaysian Open
• 2001 Caltex Singapore Masters
• 2007 Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open

Champions Tour (4)

• 2017 Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf (team tournament, partnered by Carlos Franco)
• 2018 Toshiba Classic
• 2018 Constellation Senior Players Championship
• 2018 Charles Schwab Cup Championship

Trivia Tidbits

• Vijay Singh's first name means "victory" in Hindi.
• Singh holds the record for most PGA Tour wins after age 40. He took the record away from Sam Snead during the 2007 season.