Singh Zings the Field With 29 on Back Nine

At the ninth hole, Vijay Singh thought he was out of the HP Classic at New Orleans. At the 18th, he knew the tournament was his for the taking.

Singh made a 25-foot birdie at No. 18 Monday to win the rain-delayed tournament, denying Masters champion Phil Mickelson his second consecutive victory and Joe Ogilvie his first title.

“I had patience out there,” said Singh, who won for the second consecutive week and the third time this season. “Like the front nine, when nothing was happening. I was just two-under and everybody was way ahead. So I said, ‘Just keep going, there is another nine to go.’

Singh overcame a six-shot deficit in the last eight holes, using an eagle at No. 15 to shoot 29 on the back nine for a round of 63.

Ogilvie almost forced a playoff after Singh’s putt, but his blast out of the sand trap missed by an inch. Mickelson, playing in his first tournament since winning the Masters, tied Ogilvie at 267.

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A record 8,726 golfers have entered the U.S. Open, ranging from a 13-year-old from Bradenton, Fla., to an 81-year-old from Milwaukee.

Also entered is David Duval, who has not competed in nearly six months. While he has not said when he might resume playing, Duval needed to officially enter so he would have the option of competing June 17-20 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

The previous record for entries was 8,468, set in 2002 when the U.S. Open was played at Bethpage Black.

Players must be either a professional or carry a 1.4 handicap to enter.