One of the names celebrated in legendary golf performances is a 61-year-old man who played the game well.

He then went on a ridiculous run in 2004, shocking the golf fraternity. If you haven’t figured it out yet, here’s another hint: his name means “victory” in Hindi, which fits perfectly with his golfing legacy.

We are talking about Vijay Singh! The PGA Tour pro surprised fans and competitors with his three major championships and 34 tour wins. One of his best years was 2004, a season forgotten by many today. As podcast host Kelvin Van Valkenburg said, “We barely talk about it!” Interestingly, the NLU podcast recently explored Singh’s exciting performance at the 2004 Buick Open, where he stunned everyone, including the golf legend Tiger Woods.

During the tournament, Singh was paired with John Daly, the OG bad boy recognized for his bold personality. As Daly stepped onto the greens, the crowd went crazy, cheering intensely for Daly. Whereas, Singh got only polite applause. “It was noisy, and the crowd was all for him,” Singh reflected in an interview. He even joked with Daly, asking if he’d somehow paid the fans to cheer so loudly.

But you know what? The more noise there was, the calmer Singh became. “I’m just growing up, I guess, and handling the pressure better,” he said, appreciating his reaction that day. And, in true Singh fashion, he teased Daly as they teed off, confidently stating, “Daly, I know you’re fine with it, but I’m gonna kick your a** today!”

 

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As the showdown kicked off, Daly was on fire. He started strong, racking up five birdies and an eagle in the first round, finishing with a score of 70. Meanwhile, Singh was in the zone too, carding an impressive 63. When it came to the fourth round, things heated up. And guess what? Singh went on to win the tournament with a 5-under 67, beating John Daly by just one stroke!

That marked his fourth victory of 2004 and the 19th of his career on the PGA Tour, finishing with a remarkable total of 23-under 265. Daly, hoping for multiple wins that year, ended just a stroke behind after shooting a solid 66 but unfortunately bogeyed the 18th hole. After clinching the title, Singh shared, “John put a lot of pressure on me early. I\’ve never had that kind of a battle.” Meanwhile, Daly also mentioned, “It was a great match. We were in it all the way. I was either 1-up, or he was 1-up.”

His opponent friend even confessed how Singh had politely said during the third round, “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. You know it’s not very ego… very… nobody does that,” referring to his kick your a** reaction. Truly a sign of good sportsmanship! Tiger Woods, who was also in the mix, finished third with a 66, as well. A frustrated Woods expressed, “To play that well and not win is frustrating.”

Singh’s 2004 season was remarkable by winning nine tournaments, including the PGA Championship, and dethroning Woods as the number one golfer. But what made his game so strong?

Singh’s swings surpassed Tiger Woods after an interesting John Daly battle

Singh led the PGA Tour in multiple stat categories, including the best scoring average, total birdies (484), par-4 scoring, and strokes gained/off the tee. He was also second in greens during regulation with a 73.03% success rate. During an interview, Singh revealed the secret sauce behind all of it.

“One of the main things I wanted to improve from 2003 was my consistency with the driver,” he said. To achieve this, he made a crucial adjustment to his swing, shortening his backswing for better control. This allowed him to maintain a consistent swing shape, crucial for accuracy. Singh explained, “I hit my best shots when my club goes back and comes through on the same plane.”

via Imago

He used a clever practice technique by placing a shaft in the ground at an angle and laying another shaft along his target line. This helped him practice swinging with every club while keeping the club just above the angled shaft.

He also paid close attention to his clubface position at the top of the backswing to avoid missing shots to the left. But Singh’s success wasn’t limited to driving. He excelled with his short irons, too! He emphasized the importance of proper alignment, stating, “I worked a lot on my alignment—being off even slightly is the difference between a makeable birdie and a good two-putt.”

His approach allowed him to maximize his precise iron play, a strategy amateur golfers can learn from. In fact, he stressed that knowing your carry distance is crucial, especially for amateurs. So, if you look to elevate your golf game, consider integrating Singh’s tips!