62-year-old Vijay Singh will play the 2026 Sony Open in Hawaii this week. That fact alone caused controversy heading into the event. But the three-time major winner silenced the haters on Friday as he rallied to make the cut.
Without any further context, Singh’s performance is an achievement in itself. But two statistics from Singh’s incredible performance were particularly stunning.
Vijay Singh, 62, will be competing in the 2026 Sony Open
When the news broke, Singh would use a little-known rule to play the Sony Open and others PGA Tour During the events of 2026, some criticized him for taking the place of an emerging professional.
But Singh earned the right to play thanks to a historic Tour career. Singh made his first start in 1992 at the age of 29 and went on to win 34 times on Tour and capture three major titles, including the 2000 Masters.
With more than $71 million in career earnings, Singh ranks sixth on the all-time money list. Which brings us to Singh’s loophole.
Any player in the top 50 in career earnings who has lost Tour status may regain status for one season of their choice. And Singh, at 62, has chosen 2026.
But Singh, who has won five PGA Tour Champions events in the past decade, isn’t calling. He participates.
In the very first round of his comeback at this week’s Sony Open, Singh opened with a two-under 68, which would have been better if not for two double bogeys.
In Friday’s second round, Singh battled the cut line all day. In the end he signed for an even par 70, leaving him at two under for the tournament and one shot inside the cut line.
Singh is making history in two ways at the Sony Open
Although Singh earned two starts this weekend and has an outside chance to win, he has already made some history in the first two rounds.
First, Singh’s cut at the Sony Open made him the oldest player to make a PGA Tour cut since 2023. At the 2023 Masters, 63-year-old Fred Couples became the oldest player to ever make a Masters cut. He finished T50.
The man who holds the record for the oldest to make a Tour cut is Jay Haas, although his feat took place in a team event. Haas, then 68, teamed up with his son Bill to compete in the 2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Haas broke a record that Sam Snead had held for more than 40 years after reaching the 1979 Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic at the age of 67.
But Singh’s inclusion at the Sony Open also marked another achievement: It was his fourth decade of inclusion on the PGA Tour.
His first success came in his first start at the 1992 Memorial, where he finished T7. Before this week, his most recent appearance came at the 2020 Memorial, where he finished T62.
In total, Singh has now made 506 of 638 cuts in his PGA Tour career.
But the fun isn’t over yet. Singh starts the weekend seven shots off the lead as he chases his first PGA Tour victory since a three-win season in 2008, 18 years ago.
And this week won’t be his only start. Thanks to the PGA Tour rule he is taking advantage of, Singh will be eligible for most full PGA Tour events in 2026. He is also eligible for the Masters as a former champion. As for the Signature Events, he’ll have to work his way into that.
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