The talk in golf continues about who might be the next Tiger Woods, not that there will be a next Tiger Woods.
The names tossed out are those of Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas. Maybe the question should be whether there ever will be another Vijay Singh.
Woods turns 33 on December 30. Kim and Villegas, possible successors, are in their 20s. They, indeed, may be the game’s future. But at 45, Singh remains very much a part of the present.
Singh on Sunday won the tournament that benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, the Chevron World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club, in the fringes of the Santa Monica Mountains some 40 miles west of downtown Los Angeles.
Singh, on his second consecutive 5-under par 67, finished with an 11-under total of 277, a shot in front of Steve Stricker, who had a 68.
Tied for third at 281 were Hunter Mahan (68), Villegas (73) and Kim (73), who botched his chance with back-to-back double bogeys on 15 and 16.
It was 15, a 189-yard downhill par-3 that bruised Luke Donald. He shanked his tee shot off a barren mountain and also doubled.
Still, Donald came in with the tournament’s low round, a 6-under 66 that offered both nine birdies and a lot of confidence to a young man who had missed more than five months because of wrist surgery.
“This was a breakout round for me,’’ said Donald. “It set me up nicely for next year. It’s nice to know the talent’s still there. The first three days I had 97 putts. Maybe I had been working on my swing too much and neglecting the short game.’’
Nobody in the game works on his swing more than Singh, who conceded he will be on the practice range on Christmas Day.
Although the Chevron doesn’t count in the total, Singh has more victories, 22, after the age of 40 than anyone.
This year Vijay won three times on Tour, took the FedEx Cup and led the money list with $6.6 million.
“I think it shows you don’t quit after you turn 40,’’ said Singh. “I think when Seve (Ballesteros) and (Nick) Faldo and (Sandy) Lyle, all were playing in Europe and I was playing with them, after you reached 35 you’d kind of slow down. But nowadays I think there’s no age limit. Right now I’m the leader, and I’m not quitting yet.’’