Aug 24, 2008 - 11:00 PM
0 shoutsPARAMUS, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Vijay Singh stole Sergio Garcia's thunder and along with it, the title at The Barclays.
Singh outlasted Garcia and American Kevin Sutherland on Sunday to win the first event of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs and pick up his second victory of the year.
Singh, Garcia and Sutherland each finished at 8-under-par and went to the 18th to start the playoff. Sutherland was eliminated after Garcia made a 27-foot birdie putt and Singh followed with a birdie of his own from 26 feet.
"It happens. What can you do? You can't take it the wrong way," Garcia said. "I think the most important thing about it is that I keep putting myself in a good position, and unfortunately somebody just seems to be able to come up with some spectacular playing when I'm out there on top."
The playoff then went to the par-5 17th, where Garcia pulled his drive left and then hit his second behind a tree well short and right of the green.
"Unfortunately I turned my driver just a little too much. I didn't think it was that bad," Garcia said. "Obviously it clipped the tree and kind of spun a little bit to the left and didn't get the best of lies. I just couldn't turn it. I was trying to hit like a hooky 6-iron to leave myself a sand wedge into the green and tried to make birdie and maybe make the putt for eagle.
"Unfortunately it came out straight. I got stymied behind the tree. And then I didn't hit a good chip and unfortunately Vijay hit a good putt stone dead."
With Singh safely on in two, Garcia ran his chip from just off the green by the hole to the right. Singh two-putted from 20 feet for the win.
It was Singh's second victory of the season and his fourth Barclays title.
"It's a great place, great tournament, and hopefully I can top it again next year," Singh said.
Sutherland carded a 3-under 68 on Sunday to get in the playoff while Singh and Garcia each signed for a 70.
"I played well all day. I played well all week, really consistent," Sutherland said. "I shot four solid rounds, and unfortunately I just didn't make the birdie on last hole here in this playoff. I'm happy and disappointed at the same time."
With his 21st win since turning 40, Singh has the lead in the FedEx Cup points race with 109,500. Garcia is now in second with 104,375 points.
"I'm just going to go out there and play hard for the next week and week after that. I know we've got some nice, good golf courses to come to," Singh said. "I've got a great start, and I just have to go ahead and play hard for the next three other events. The guys behind me, the way the system works now, the next guy that wins can just overtake you.
"It's going to be tough. But I'm ahead and I've got a head start, so I just have to go out there and play consistent, solid golf and hopefully win at the end."
