Singh fires 64, trails by one stroke

FORT WORTH, Texas – After a six-year absence from Colonial Country Club, Vijay Singh shot a 6-under 64 to be one stroke off the lead after the opening round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational on Thursday.

Woody Austin, Tim Clark and Steve Stricker were the co-leaders.

“This is a good way to start a tournament,” Singh said.

He stopped playing at Colonial when Annika Sorenstam showed up in 2003. Singh played this event all but once from 1996-2002. He was scheduled to return in ‘03, then withdrew after making comments critical of the decision to allow a woman into the field. The gallery mocked his absence that week (his name on the side of chicken hats, T-shirts that read, “Singh a different tune, Vijay”), but folks seemed to have forgiven and forgotten on Thursday.

He heard cheers when he birdied five straight holes in the middle of his round and people groaned along with him when he hit the flagstick on his 15th hole. The good vibe likely was aided by his pairing with Kenny Perry, a two-time champion, and Brian Gay, who was born in Fort Worth and considers this his favorite course.

Singh described the support from the gallery as “no more than I had last week.”

“I haven’t been playing well so they’ve been very quiet,” he said, laughing. “Maybe they’re going to start making noise here soon.”

Singh and Perry walked off their final green leading the field. It didn’t last, though, because Austin came in at 63 soon after, then Clark followed. All left for lunch expecting more low scores to come in because of the light winds and soft greens, but Stricker was the only player from the afternoon groups to join them. (AP)