Vijay Singh, the honored World Golf Hall of Famer and 2000 Masters champion, took his name completely out of consideration for this year’s Masters tournament. He is taking a leave of absence for an undisclosed injury. As the 62-year-old golfer prepared to tee it up in the 2023 Masters, he didn’t shy away from making a counter-intuitive decision. This moment is a huge achievement for his legendary career.
This marks the second consecutive year Singh has withdrawn in the days leading up to his 32nd appearance at the Masters. He has had great success at this tournament in the past. Would you believe that Singh won the prestigious tournament in 2000, beating Ernie Els by three strokes? From 2000 to 2006, he was unbeatable at Augusta National. Through it all, he rattled off six top-eight finishes in seven tournaments.
Singh competing in the recently completed James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational. He overcame that by tying for 18th, 12 shots behind winner Ángel Cabrera. Even at 53 years of age, he isn’t slowing down on the PGA Tour Champions tour – a testament to his longevity in the world of competitive golf.
In 2019, Singh made the cut at the Masters at age 61 but finished tied for 58th with a score of 14 over par. He remains high level competitive just by sheer skill. It’s his commitment to the sport that really makes him special. With the secretive deal surrounding his first major injury, it puts a question mark on his ability and willingness to play in future high stakes contests.
Singh’s legacy in golf is already cemented, with many tournament wins and accomplishments under his belt. Fans and fellow competitors alike are lamenting his decision to sit out this year. As theater makers, producers, and scholars, they have tracked his development for much of the last 40 years. The Masters is one of the four majors, or most prestigious tournaments, in professional golf. Singh’s absence will certainly be noticed on the course.
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