ASSOCIATED PRESS Vijay Singh tossed the ball to his caddy, Joey Diovisalvi, during the Mercedes Pro-Am yesterday.

Singh ready for
run on Maui

The world’s No. 1 golfer
is loose as the Mercedes
opens

KAPALUA, Maui » Vijay Singh will never be confused with comedian Chris Rock, but if yesterday is any indication, the world's best golfer has gone from standoffish to stand-up.

Several unsuspecting members of the press served as straight men for the world's best golfer at a media session for the start of the 2005 PGA Tour season. Coming off two promising practice rounds for today's opening of the $5.3 million Mercedes Championships, Singh was working the room like the late, great Rodney Dangerfield at Caesars Palace.

Mercedes Championships Where: The Plantation Course at Kapalua When: Today through Sunday Purse: $5.3 million. Winner's share: $1.06 million Television: ESPN (Today-Saturday, 2-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2-5 p.m., Hawaii time) Defending champ: Stuart Appleby

After giving a brief opening statement that included equipment changes he made in the offseason, the first question asked was what kind of driver he had in his bag.

"It's the Launcher Composite Cleveland, it's the 460," Singh said. "It's going 460 yards, too."

Later he was asked how being No. 1 in the world impacted him as far as balancing his time.

"I would rather not have that much attention, but at the same time be No. 1," Singh said. "But it just doesn't go that way. I think Jack (Nicklaus) and Arnold (Palmer) and those guys dealt with it, and I guess you just keep smiling and keep signing and keep going."

One writer who was on the same flight to Maui as Singh noticed he was standing at the baggage carousel waiting for his golf clubs to show up. The two-part question moved on to whether Singh was up for the demands of commercial television as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were, and could he become an outgoing personality worthy of David Letterman.

Singh paused a moment and then said, "That really depends -- first of all, my bags did arrive. It took awhile, but it did get there. Secondly, I've enjoyed doing commercials. I've enjoyed talking to you guys when I'm in a good mood.

"I think I'm an easygoing guy. But you guys don't think so. That's something you guys have to change around a little bit."

Sensing things were going well, Singh settled in for several more questions, before someone asked him about the swing changes Tiger Woods had made and whether he had noticed the difference.

"I'm not a swing coach. You've got to ask Butch that," Singh deadpanned, referring to Woods' old swing coach, Butch Harmon.

The reporter responded, "That's funny."

At that point, Singh stood up and left the building on a high note.

The reporter later asked, "Do you think he's being funny or does he really think Butch Harmon is still Tiger's swing coach?"

Nobody bothered to ask Singh, who was already heading toward the putting green to work on his touch, but it seemed the 40-year-old was as comfortable away from the green as he was on it last year en route to nine wins and $10 million in prize money.

It's no secret Singh enjoys playing the Plantation Course. He has five top-10 finishes here since the Mercedes moved to Kapalua in 1999, including a second last year to Stuart Appleby. He'd like nothing better than to build on last year's success with a win at the opening event of the PGA Tour.

"I hope so," Singh said. "I played well; good practice session today and yesterday. We'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully, the weather gets a bit more windy and not so calm like it is today. You just have to have a good start over the first one or two days and see what happens over the weekend."

It's the first time Singh has been No. 1 to start the season. His two closest competitors, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, could conceivably catch him by the time the tour heads to Florida, but it would take a fast start by them and a slow one for Singh, who will join Els at the Sony Open in Hawaii next week.

"I think you've seen the era of Nicklaus, Palmer, (Gary) Player, those guys were at their best," Singh said. "You're seeing the same thing right now. There's not just one guy dominating. There's three, four, five guys who can win the whole player of the year, any year coming soon.

"It's hard to say who is going to play well this year. Everybody is geared up. I think everybody is keen to play well. It's not only five guys, but everybody else in the top 10 or 15 is really looking to play really good golf. It's going to be a great season."

An hour after Singh left to practice, the reporter who wondered if Singh knew who was coaching Woods these days returned and said, "Yeah, he was being funny about Butch and Tiger."

Maybe stand-up comic is in his future after all.