Vijay's day at the Masters

Monday, April 10th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

AUGUSTA, Ga. - En route to the Masters title Sunday, Vijay Singh hit what he thought was a terrible shot on No. 11. And that bounce out of the azalea patch behind No. 12? Very fortuitous.

But Singh clearly was the best player over the four days of this long, draining and, at times, bizarre 64th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. His final-round 69, 10-under total and three-shot cushion over runner-up Ernie Els were hard-earned and indisputably deserved.

And as Singh slipped into his green, 46-long champion's jacket Sunday evening, the realization set in that this 37-year-old Fijian has claimed two of golf's last six major championships. Can anyone else say that? No. Not even No. 1 Tiger Woods, who finished six shot back Sunday.

"Walking up that 18th hole, knowing that a two-putt was going to win, was probably the greatest feeling I've had in a long, long time," said Singh, whose previous best Masters finish was a tie for 17th in '97. "And wearing this green jacket tops it all."

David Duval still doesn't know the feeling. For the third straight year, Duval entered Augusta National's back nine on Sunday with an opportunity to win. For the third time, he was denied.

It was Duval's double bogey on the par-3 No. 12 on Saturday that gave Singh a lead he would keep for the tournament's final 25 holes.

And Sunday, it was Duval's ill-advised 5-iron approach to the par-5 13th that rolled into the tributary to Rae's Creek, leading to a bogey and two-shot swing that gave Singh a three-shot lead. And for all intents, the Masters.

"I just hit a bad golf shot, and it was the wrong time to do that," said Duval, who wound up tying Loren Roberts for third, four shots behind Singh. "I feel like that was the only poor shot I hit this weekend.

"That's probably what cost me the golf tournament."

Singh, meanwhile, looked as placid and rattle-proof as when he won the '98 PGA Championship at Sahalee (Wash.).

He hadn't panicked after his first-round 72, during which he required 36 putts, more than anyone in the 95-player field. On Saturday, he had persevered while most faltered amid the rain, 30 mph gusts and plummeting temperatures.

And Sunday morning, with the wind chill at 26 degrees, Singh returned to finish the final four holes of his darkness-suspended third round. Leading Duval by three at the time, at 7 under, he kept the cushion with par saves of four, five and 15 feet on holes 15, 16 and 17.

"That kind of gave me a big boost," Singh said. "I think it was important for me not to lose any shots."

Those morning putts proved to be a foreshadowing of the afternoon. Every time Duval punched, Singh counter-punched.

Duval birdied No. 2 to pull within two shots. The lead was one after Singh bogeyed No. 3.

But when Duval birdied Nos. 6, 8 and 9, Singh responded with birdies on each hole, like a horseshoes marksman topping his opponent's ringers.

"He putted wonderful," Duval said. "He probably putted a little better than he played, I think."

And where was Woods? Lurking, but never really threatening. Starting the day with a six-shot deficit, he trimmed the lead in half with birdies on Nos. 7 and 8, but never pulled any closer.

Roberts got to 6 under but no higher.

So it largely came down to a back-nine duel between Singh, playing partner Duval and Els (one group ahead).

"He obviously showed his mettle today," Els said of Singh. "He's done it before at the PGA, and now he's done it again. This golf course has always been perfectly suited to his game. He just never putted that well."

Singh's stretch run, however, was paved with a couple of breaks, which should sound familiar. On the 11th hole two years ago at Sahalee, Singh's final-round approach shot was headed well right, but it struck a maple tree and ricocheted onto the green. He used that birdie to help hold off Steve Stricker.

Sunday at Augusta, with a two-shot lead, Singh pulled his approach shot on No. 11 into the water. But he received a break when marshals and rules officials determined that Singh, instead of going back to the drop area, was entitled a drop to the right of the water, much closer to the hole.

Singh escaped No. 11 with a bogey, but his lead was down to one. On the par-3 12th, Duval hit his tee shot 25 feet behind the hole.

Then Singh got his next break. His shot, pulled long and left, flew into a patch of azaleas, bounced right and trickled into a bunker.

Singh blasted out to two feet, enabling him to tie the hole when Duval missed his putt. Disaster averted, again, it was on to No. 13 where Duval wasn't as fortunate.

Each time Duval prepared to hit his approach shot, the wind picked up and doubt crept in.

Finally, Duval made his ill-fated swing. Pressed about whether it was the wind or human error that caused the miscue, Duval became terse.

"I hit a bad golf shot," he said. "I don't know what's so hard about understanding that. I hit a bad shot."

Who would have imagined that Singh, whose putting long has been his Achilles', would triumph on the toughest greens in the world?

Who would have thought a native of a country of 500,000 people and 12 golf courses, a man who in 1985 earned $160 a month teaching golf to lumberjacks and oil workers in the Borneo rain forest, would win arguably the most cherished major of all?

"I feel I've had a lot of chances at winning all the majors," Singh said. "But winning this one has really given me all the confidence I can go out there and win a lot more."