Singh Hoping for a Different Kind of Feeling in Texas

Vijay Singh misses the pressure of winning--something he hasn’t done on the PGA Tour in nearly two years.

“I haven’t felt that--I want to be right in there to feel that,” Singh said Friday after shooting a bogey-free, seven-under-par 65 to take a two-stroke lead over Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke in the Shell Houston Open at the Woodlands, Texas.

Singh, who was at 12 under with a 132 total, hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since the 2000 Masters, although he did win twice last year, taking consecutive European tour events in Asia.

Singh started Friday two shots behind first-round leader Jim Carter, who ended up six strokes back after a second-round 73. Singh birdied the first and fifth holes, then strung birdies at Nos. 8, 9 and 10.

His tee shot at the par-three, 175-yard 16th wound up in the bunker to the left and behind the hole, but Singh’s shot out of the sand from 54 feet away found the cup, breaking a tie with Clarke for the lead. Singh also finished with a flourish, rolling in a 12-footer at No. 18 for his final birdie.

Clarke matched Singh’s 65; and J.P. Hayes, who had a 68, was three strokes back at nine under.

Clarke had eight birdies--including the final two holes--and a single bogey.

“I kept hitting it to 10, 15 feet, kept giving myself chances everywhere,” Clarke said.

Hays, from El Paso, made the cut for only the third time in his eight tournaments this year. He started Friday with one birdie and 10 pars, then birdied Nos. 12, 13 and 15 in his bogey-free 68.

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Dana Quigley, seeking his second consecutive Senior PGA Tour victory, shot a seven-under 63 to take a two-stroke lead in the Emerald Coast Classic at Milton, Fla.

Dave Eichelberger had a hole in one in his round of 65 on the Moors Golf Club. Quigley, who won the Siebel Classic in Silicon Valley two weeks ago and is third on the money list with $599,910, credited his success this year to a sports psychologist.

“He struck a nerve with me,” Quigley said. “I really have a mind-set to birdie all the holes. It’s an amazing way to play golf.”

Eichelberger recorded the 12th hole in one of his career, using a seven-iron on the 185-yard eighth hole. “I didn’t see the ball go in,” he said.