Third time may definitely be the charm for Fiji’s most famous sportsman, Vijay Singh, who is looking for his very first PGA Grand Slam win after two losses. Singh clinched a spot in the 22nd PGA Grand Slam of Golf
Third time may definitely be the charm for Fiji’s most famous sportsman, Vijay Singh, who is looking for his very first PGA Grand Slam win after two losses.
Singh clinched a spot in the 22nd PGA Grand Slam of Golf by winning the 2004 PGA Championship, after posting a final round 4-over-par 76 at Whistling Straits-Straits Course in Kohler, Wisc.
The victory didn’t come easy though, as Singh had to outduel Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard for his second PGA Championship and third career major championship.
Singh made a five-foot birdie putt, his only birdie of the day, on the uphill 10th hole, a 361-yard, par-4, and went on to post two additional pars in the playoff.
Leonard had the Championship in his grasp, but bogeyed the final two holes to share the 72-hole lead with DiMarco and Singh at 8-under-par 280.
Singh is the fourth oldest player to win a PGA Championship at 41 years, five months, and 23 days.
His closing 76 was the highest score by a major championship winner since Reg Whitcombe’s 78 at Royal St. George’s in the 1938 British Open. The all-time highest final-day score by a major champion occurred in the 1898 U.S. Open, when Fred Herd posted an 84.
But Singh’s year was just getting started.
With nine wins on tour and over $10 million in prize money this year, Singh had arguably one of the best years in PGA tour history.
He also wrestled the number one ranking from perrenial favorite Tiger Woods.
You can check out Vijay and the rest of the 2004 PGA Grand Slam of Golf players, as they fight for the $1,000,000 purse, from November 22-24 at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course and Hyatt Regency Kaua‘i Resort and Spa.
The Grand Slam, known as the toughest qualifying event in golf, welcomes major winners Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen, Todd Hamilton, and Phil Mickelson this year. In preparation, The Garden Island will preview each of the participants on Mondays. Also included is everything you need to know about the PGA Grand Slam.
Format: 36 holes stroke play
Purse: 1st: $400,000, 2nd: $250,000, 3rd: $200,000, 4th: $150,000.
Starting Times: Monday, November 22, Pro-Am: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 23, First Round: 9 a.m., Wednesday, November 24, Final Round: 9 a.m.
Tickets: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: $40, Monday only (Pro-Am, Nov. 22): $10, Tuesday only (First Round, Nov. 23): $20, Wednesday only (Final Round, Nov. 24): $20.
Advance Ticket Sales: 1-800-PGA-TCKT. For more information or questions, contact PGA Ticketing at 1-800-PGA-TCKT (1-800-742-8258) or visit PGA.com.
Free Junior Tickets: In an effort to encourage the attendance of juniors, free juniors tickets will be offered to children 17 years of age and under who must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Junior tickets are available at all admission gates.
Gate Hours: Monday, Nov. 22: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 23: 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 24: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
(You will be requires to wear your ticket where it can be seen at all times while on the grounds of the Grand Slam.)
Golf Shop: The Po‘ipu Golf Shop and Merchandise tent will be open to view a wide variety of Grand Slam logoed golf attire and collectable memorabilia that is available for purchase.
Concessions: Food and beverage concession stands are located at 18 green, 16 green, and the practice range. In addition, mobile beverage carts are continuously following play.
Parking and Shuttle Info: Shuttle service is offered to all spectators free of charge. Continuous shuttle service will be available from the Po‘ipu Bypass Road. Shuttle service to the golf course will begin at 8 a.m. each morning and will run continuously until one hour after play each day. The parking area is less than 5 minutes from the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course. No public parking will be found near the course. Patrons are encouraged to utilize the free public parking. Walking along Po‘ipu Road is unsafe and discouraged.
Live Television Coverage: The PGA Grand Slam of Golf is one of the world’s premiere golf events, with extensive television coverage to 86.2 million U.S. homes on TNT and will be seen in more than 100 countries worldwide: Tuesday, Nov. 23, 3 – 3 p.m., EST – Preview Show, 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. EST, 12:00 p.m. – 4 p.m. local Hawai‘i. Wednesday Nov. 23, 4 – 7 p.m. EST, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. local Hawai‘i.
