Vijay Singh’s choice to play the 2026 season on a PGA Tour card drew a lot of criticism early on, but his performance so far at the Sony Open in Hawaii is starting to change some minds.
The 62-year-old, who tied for 32nd in Waialae, shot two 68s in the second round and finished with a 70 that left him at 4 under par heading into Sunday.
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Singer has been using the career bonus exemption this year, which gives him the opportunity to play in most full events, marking his return to the PGA Tour. While the decision wasn’t universally popular at first, he seemed more than capable of sticking to his guns.
His performance in Hawaii showed he still has plenty left in the tank. This shows that age has not completely taken away his skills and shooting ability.
Phil Mickelson shares thoughts on Vijay Singh’s Sony Open performance
Photography: Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
Phil Mickelson knows what it’s like to be the oldest player on the court. The HyFlyers captain, who turns 56 in June, holds the title on the LIV Golf Tour.
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Mickelson has faced off against Singh during his time on the PGA Tour and did not hesitate to express his respect for the Fijian’s continued commitment to the sport.
“He is an incredible talent and one of the hardest working people I have ever met,” the 56-year-old wrote on X.
Vijay Singh shows he still belongs on PGA Tour
Singer silenced much of the criticism following his decision to accept a PGA Tour card this season.
His last PGA Tour regular season appearance was at the 2021 Honda Classic, so it’s no surprise that some are questioning whether that makes sense.
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The 62-year-old certainly has the right to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the career money exemption, just as Brooks Koepka did under different circumstances earlier this year.
But he’s proving he’s far from a misfit. He even made the cut while players like Collin Morikawa and Keegan Bradley failed to make the cut.
Four shots shy of the top 10, he’s unlikely to close that gap given the number of names ahead of him. But just playing all 72 holes was enough to get his season off to an impressive start.
Even so, it wouldn’t be surprising if Singer didn’t shoot above par all week.
