Associated Press
Wednesday, April 12

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Looking for Vijay Singh to follow his Masters victory with another in the MCI Classic? Don't count on it.

It's been 15 years since Bernhard Langer followed an Augusta win with a victory under the lighthouse at Harbour Town.

"I don't know if there is a good place to recover from The Masters," said Glen Day, the 1999 MCI champion who tied for 19th at Augusta.

Singh, Sunday's winner, doesn't think he needs to recover.

"I think I can keep my focus," he said. "I have to admit, it's going to be difficult."

Especially with fans and Singh treating Wednesday's pro-am like a victory lap. Singh, who showed up 20 minutes late for his starting time, was cheered from tee to green. Spectators who a week ago might have known only in passing that Singh was from Fiji, rushed him for autographs and pictures.

"Mom, I'll do it later," said one of Singh's group, Brett Emery, when his mother handed him a yellow hat for the champions' signature. Emery's cap had Singh's signature smartly on its bill.

"I don't know that I've ever gotten this much attention," said Singh, who won the PGA Championship two years ago.

Singh also was enjoying the laid-back afternoon after the pressure cooker of Augusta. He tried a full-throttle, swinging flop shot -- ala Phil Mickelson -- when only 10 yards off the 12th green. He casually threw a ball on the tee box at No. 13 and played a 3-wood off the turf without a tee.

He didn't consider bypassing Harbour Town as Woods did after his Masters victory in 1997 and Jose Maria Olazabal after Augusta victories in 1994 and last year.

"It's always nice to play the week after you win," Singh said. "I remember Tom Watson saying that you're riding it well, you should ride it until you ride it out."

Most Masters contenders felt ridden out as dusk fell on the azaleas last Sunday.

Check last week's leaderboard and this week's entries. Only half of the top 10 are playing here with David Duval, Woods and Mickelson among those on a break.

Davis Love III, a four-time MCI champion, doesn't expect to get over his disappointment of finishing eight shots behind Singh for some time.

"Even if I make a few 20-footers (here), I can't tell you that I won't be thinking about what might have been if that happened at Augusta," he said.

Love is one of the few who can follow Augusta with some success. His Sea Island, Ga., home has a similar Hilton Head resort feel. His family can play on the beach.

"Mike Hulbert brought his family here on Saturday," Love said. "I think Brad Faxon is staying on next week. It's great to come to some place where millions go for vacation."

When Love won the MCI two years ago, he said it was partly because his game is so well-honed this time of year because he points to The Masters.

"I was ready, really ready, for The Masters this time," Love said Wednesday. "But when Vijay gets out in front, he usually does pretty well."

Another good omen? Singh followed his PGA victory in 1998 by capturing the Sprint International the next week.

Singh thinks his game is a good match for Harbour Town, although his best finish in seven trips was a fifth in 1996. That also was the year that Nick Faldo, fresh off his third Masters win, tied for 29th at Harbour Town.

"I think I'm certainly playing well enough," Singh said. "I feel very comfortable with what I'm doing right now."