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Singh establishes earnings record

Vijay Singh of Fiji just after winning the 84 Lumber Classic by one stroke over Stewart Cink in Farmington, Pennsylvania, Sunday. It's Singh's eighth championship this year. PHOTO: AP

Vijay Singh broke the PGA Tour single-year money record Tiger Woods set while winning three majors in 2000, holding off Stewart Cink to win the 84 Lumber Classic by one shot Sunday for his third consecutive victory.

Singh's eighth championship this year pushed his money total to US$9,455,566 in 26 events, surpassing Woods' US$9,188,321 while he was winning nine times in 20 events in 2000. With Singh expecting to play four more times, he could become the first to win US$10 million in one year.

"I'm going to try," Singh said.

Singh led from start to finish for his fifth victory in six tournaments, the best such streak since Woods won six in a row to end 1999 and start 2000. Singh has won seven times in his last 16 events.

In only three weeks, Singh has ended Woods' five years-plus run as the world's No. 1-ranked golfer and taken away one of Woods' lines in the PGA record book. Maybe that's why Woods pulled out of the 84 Lumber after unexpectedly committing last week -- he didn't want to see Singh knock him out of yet another lead.

"It's ridiculous the way he's playing right now," said Chris DiMarco, who tied for third with Pat Perez and Zach Johnson after starting the round two back.

Singh had a three-under 69 Sunday, his third round in the 60s in four days, to finish at 15-under 273. Cink, five off the lead when the day started, had five straight birdies from No. 7 through No. 11 to make a move, but a bogey on the par-4 14th dropped him three back. Singh then held on despite a bogey on the par-4 18th.

Longs Drugs

Christina Kim made a charge on the back nine, shooting a 6-under 65 at the Longs Drugs Challenge for a one-shot victory over Karrie Webb and her first LPGA win.

Kim, who was the first-round leader with a 64, made five birdies on the back side in finishing with an 18-under 266 at The Ridge Golf Club.

Webb had a chance to force a playoff on the final hole, but missed a 7-foot birdie attempt. Webb shot a 64 Sunday that included two birdies on the front side and an eagle to move into contention. She shared the lead until Kim's birdie on the 17th.

On the 18th, Kim's birdie putt rolled left of the hole. But Webb then missed her birdie attempt and had to settle for second place.

SAS Championship

Craig Stadler became the first player in more than six years to win three straight tournaments on the senior circuit, making birdies on the final three holes Sunday to win the SAS Championship with a tournament-record 17-under-par 199.

He beat Tom Jenkins by six strokes.

"I guess you get to the point where you expect things, you expect to hit good shots," Stadler said. "The more time you spend in the so-called zone, the easier it is to live up to the expectations."

Stadler closed with a 6-under 66 to avoid any real challenge from Jenkins, who shot a 68 Sunday. Jose Maria Canizares (66) and Doug Tewell (67) tied for third at 8 under.

The Heritage

Henrik Stenson of Sweden shot a 6-under-par 66 on Sunday to win The Heritage at Woburn by four strokes over Carlos Rodiles of Spain.

The 28-year-old, who led going into the final round, birdied four successive holes beginning at the 14th to clinch his victory. It was his first on the European Tour in 3 1/2 years. Stenson finished on 19-under 269. Rodiles carded a 7-under 65 and finished on 273.
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