BBC SPORT | Special Events | US Masters | How Singh stunned them all

Compiling a list of world-famous Fijians is not the easiest thing to do.

It is fair to say that after pause for thought, most sports fans would eventually come up with the name of Vijay Singh... and that would probably be it.

But Singh could still stroll into many golf club bars around the globe without attracting too much attention until April last year, when victory in the US Masters propelled him head on into the world spotlight.

But any man given the name Vijay at birth is bound to be successful in his chosen profession.

The name, translated from Sanskrit into English, means 'victory'.

And when Jose Maria Olazabal slipped the coveted Green Jacket onto Singh's back, his father Billy must have been rightly justified with such a wise choice.

Although Ernie Els and David Duval made his victory at Augusta that little bit more difficult, for Singh it represented an elevation in golf's big-time league.

But his promotion to golf's elite began in inauspicious surroundings - and has taken a few tangent routes in between.

Tom Weiskopf crouches to view a putt
Singh modelled his swing on Tom Weiskopf's

His passion for golf began at the Nadi Airport Golf Club - a nine-hole course on the island of Viti Levu.

His father, an aeroplane technician who taught golf in his spare time, nurtured his son's talent - especially his ability to whack a golf ball over a long distance down a fairway.

He based his languid swing on Tom Weiskopf's - a model which has reaped enormous benefits in his career.

But once he turned professional, a moment of controversy hindered his progress towards his position as world-beater.

In 1985, he was suspended from the Asian Tour following allegations he altered his card, improving his score by one shot at the Jakarta Open.

Although he has adamantly denied the claims, it cost him his playing privileges for two years.

Self-imposed exile

As a consequence of this, Singh became possibly the only PGA professional on the circuit to have worked as a club professional in Borneo.

Not known for being a hotbed of golf, the South Pacific island is better known for its climates reaching 40 degrees.

He sold shirts, tutored students, mowed the greens and set the pins whilst practising religiously every day.

He and his wife, Ardena, lived in a one-bedroom apartment, desperate to resume their life back on the tour.

But when his self-imposed exile was over, he rapidly began to rise to prominence.

`Vijay Singh holds up his Buick Open trophy
The Buick Open was won in 1997

In 1993, he was named PGA rookie of the year, followed by his first $1m season in 1995.

Then 1997 came and brought the South African and Buick Open titles, along with victory at the Memorial.

His first Major title came the following year with success in the USPGA.

But during that period, he did not make a significant impression at Augusta.

His best finish before 2000 was joint 17th and in his other five attempts, he either failed to make the cut or finished outside the top 20.

But four words from his nine-year-old son Qass motivated him to finally etch his name into Masters history.

"Papa, trust your swing," he had written on a note taped to Singh's bag during the 72 holes.

No doubt Singh will be looking to his son to write more words of encouragement at this year's event - hoping for a similar effect.


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