Singh takes the honours

golf

Vijay Singh, of Fiji, sank a 15ft birdie putt on the fifth hole of sudden death - his first birdie of the day - to win the Buick Classic at Westchester Country Club, in New York state, from the American, Doug Martin. Nick Faldo held a two-stroke lead for 11 holes but finished tied for fourth after a 72, two strokes away from the play-off.

Singh, the overnight leader at seven under, had a final-round one-over- par 72 to stand at six under with Martin, who birdied three of the last four holes for a 69 to force the play-off.

Faldo initially played the steady and precise golf required by the course, making birdies on the sixth, ninth and 10th holes to get to eight under, but he bogeyed the 12th, 15th, 16th and 17th.

In the play-off the first four extra holes were halved with pars, Martin sinking a 15ft putt for par at the fourth to survive. His second shot on the fifth, the par-five 18th, put him in trouble and he made bogey, allowing Singh the luxury of two-putting from 15 feet for victory. He only needed one.