The “Big Fijan” returns from knee surgery this week. Vijay Singh, who just had an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee last month in Jacksonville, Florida, comes back at Pebble Beach after the injury that took place in December at the Chevron World Challenge.
“I don’t consider this a big setback or anything,” Singh said who just vectored at three tournaments in five weeks last season claiming the FedEx Cup. “I think the knee will be much stronger in the long run, and it is certainly better that it happened now compared to the middle of the season.
“(The doctor) said my legs are really strong, which is a big advantage, having an operation like that. So I should be all right. It had to be done. If it was just a slight tear (surgery might not have been necessary). But it (was) quite a big tear there.”
Singh is renowned for his work ethic in training sessions. He even takes time to practice on Christmas at his home course TPC Sawgrass. “It’s the best time to hit balls. There’s nobody on the golf course”, he says.
So you can bet that the youngest World Golf Hall of Famer will apply the same attitude on his rehab from surgery – eventually hitting the ground running on the Monterey Peninsula the same field he won in 2004 and finished second three times, in which he lost the playoff last year to Steve Lowery.
Singh has a record of 34 victories on the PGA your, which above any player not born in the United States. His 22 victories after reaching 40 years of age have wiped out Sam Snead’s record of 17.