ESPN.com - Golf Online - Masters 2001 - Singh is champ, but Woods is target

Reuters
Monday, April 2

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Vijay Singh has more on his mind this week than just following up his brilliant Masters triumph last year with a good performance.

There is also the matter of stopping Tiger Woods from completing a sweep of golf's four major championships at this year's tournament, starting on Thursday.


	Defending Masters champ Vijay Singh coaxes a putt on the first green while practicing Monday.

"Woods has to try and get all four," Singh said after his practice round on Monday. "It's hard to win just one."

Woods won the last three majors of 2000 – the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, the British Open at St Andrews and the PGA Championship at Valhalla in record fashion.

Woods comes to Augusta National with the goal of becoming the first to hold all four majors at the same time.

"He's phenomenal, but we're going to try and stop him," said Singh, who won last year's Masters by three shots over Ernie Els. Woods was fifth, six strokes behind.

Woods has won his last two tournaments, edging out Singh by a stroke at The Players Championship, but the 38-year-old has been the second-hottest player in the world and is eager to do battle.

"It's pretty exciting. I've been looking forward to it the whole year," Singh said. "Finally it's here. It's a new tournament this week. You have to forget about what happened last year."

Singh will have at least one occasion to look back, however, when he hosts the traditional Champion's Dinner before the tournament.

The fare will be distinctly non-traditional as Singh has ordered Thai food for the menu served at Augusta National's stately clubhouse.

"We're going to get some stomachs stirred up," joked Singh.

Singh won last year's tournament largely on the strength of an astonishing 2-under 70 in a third round played in some of the worst weather to hit Augusta in recent Masters memory.

By contrast to the violent winds that whipped through the stately pines of Augusta National in that challenging round, Monday's warmup was held in gentle weather with a warm sun peeking through the clouds.

A chance of rain was predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday, but the long-range forecast was for sunny skies for the 94-man field on Thursday.

Singh said the fast greens will take time to adapt to again, but the defending champion looked right at home on the ninth hole when he sank a shot from the fairway.

"It means nothing today," said Singh. "I'm just getting to know the golf course, the greens and the speed of it again. It feels good.

"I'm was hitting the ball good today," he added. "But today is only Monday. I don't want to peak today."

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