Vijay Singh had a clear answer for anyone who questioned why he used his career money exemption to play the Sony Open. At 62, he didn’t just show up. He made the cut and finished tied 40th, his best PGA Tour result in years.
It was his first made cut in a regular Tour event since the 2020 Memorial and his first non-major PGA Tour start since the 2024 Masters. Singh activated his career money exemption to get into the field, which allows him to enter full-field PGA Tour events.
With more than $71 million in career earnings since turning pro in 1992, Singh said he understood why some people felt he was taking a spot. But he insisted he was there for one reason.
“Everybody thought I was just taking up a number, but I went in there to play well, to compete,” Singh told Sports Illustrated. “I always enter a tournament, not just to make up the numbers, I want to compete.”
Singh explained that he does not plan to play many PGA Tour events this year and will continue to focus mainly on the Champions Tour. He spoke from the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai, the season opener for the senior circuit.
“If I wanted to, I can play one or two other events if possible,” he said. “I may play San Antonio a week before that and Phoenix is a pretty flat golf course, so I could play that. So besides that, I mean, I’m happy to be on the Champions tour.”
Singh said his decision to play the Sony Open was personal. He won the tournament in 2005 and wanted one more chance to compete on a course he loves.
“I wanted to play Sony so instead of asking for a sponsor’s invite, I just said, ‘s—, I’m 62, I don’t know how many more years I’m gonna get a chance,’ it’s the last time to play Sony because it seems like they’re not going back there, so I said, ‘I love the golf course, I love Hawaii, so I might as well just do that.’”
He made his point at the Sony Open, finishing ahead of several notable players like Morikawa, Matsuyama, Finau, Keegan Bradley, Billy Horschel, Russell Henley, and Aaron Rai.
How Vijay Singh viewed his own performance
Vijay Singh didn’t just make the cut at the Sony Open. He also became the oldest player to reach the weekend in a regular PGA Tour event since Fred Couples did it at age 63 at the 2023 Masters.
Singh opened the week with a solid 2-under 68 at Waialae. He mixed six birdies with two double bogeys then followed it up with an even-par 70 on Friday to safely make the cut.
For Singh, the biggest challenge wasn’t the scorecard. It was the walking.
“After the first round, I thought I wasn’t going to make it for the second round because it’s the first time I walked 18 in a long time,” Singh said. “But the more I walked, the better it got, the more used to it I got.”
He felt good about most of his week even if the finish left him wanting more.
“I would have loved to finish better, kind of messed up coming in the last few holes,” he said. “But besides that, I was OK with the performance, and a little disappointed.”
Singh stayed steady over the weekend shooting another 68 on Saturday and a 69 on Sunday.
From a statistical standpoint, Singh posted a solid week. He finished the tournament ranked 40th in Strokes Gained: Total at 0.468. His Strokes Gained Off the Tee was -0.736, ranking 100th while his driving distance average ranked 108th.