World number one Vijay Singh fired a closing five-under-par 65 to charge to victory at the $4.8 million Sony Open on Sunday, denying Ernie Els an historic third successive title despite a course record-equalling 62.
The winner of nine trophies and more than $10 million in prize money last year, Singh began the day four shots behind overnight leader Shigeki Maruyama of Japan and went to work quickly at Hawaii's Waialae Country Club with a birdie at the second hole.
The Fijian reeled off three consecutive birdies on nine, 10 and 11 but it was a three-foot putt for birdie on 18 that put him one ahead of Els on 11-under 269, clinching the 25th PGA Tour victory of his career.
Singh's triumph overshadowed a brilliant display from Els, who finished on 270 after his eight-under round.
"I prepared for this pretty well, it's a great way to start the year," said Singh, who has 10 victories in his last 26 starts.
"I just hung in there. I had a lot of birdie chances.
"It takes a lot of pressure off me, everyone saying, 'is he going to win again?'. I missed an opportunity last week and this is going to help.
"It's a great relief, I can start breathing again and go and play more comfortably for the rest of the season."
DIFFICULT CONDITIONS
Singh, who led after three rounds of last week's season-opening Mercedes Championships before faltering badly on the final day, carded a bogey-free closing round this time in difficult, blustery conditions.
When the day began, Els was eight strokes off the lead and appeared to have little hope of making it a hat-trick of Sony Open titles.
But the big South African, who won here after playoffs in 2003 and 2004, gave himself a chance with a birdie, birdie, eagle finish.
"It would have been great to come from eight behind and make a playoff but I don't think that will happen too often, guys coming from so far behind and winning," said Els. "I think you have got to play four solid rounds of golf.
"A guy with that talent isn't going away soon. He (Singh) is at the top of his game, you can't think of him faltering.
"You try to finish the golf tournament the best you can. I really wanted to get the best score I could to get some confidence for next week."
Maruyama, who grabbed the third-round lead with the help of a hole-in-one, struggled to a one-over 71 on Sunday to finish in a tie for third place with American Charles Howell III (67) on nine-under 271.
Stewart Cink and Brett Quigley were one stroke further adrift on 272. Tommy Armour III and Andrew Magee shared seventh place on 273.
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