Singh is money player again at Woods’ event

No golfer took more advantage of Tiger Woods’ knee surgery this year than veteran Vijay Singh, who won three times and became the PGA Tour’s top money winner as Woods recuperated.

So small wonder that Singh, the 45-year-old Fijian, would win Woods’ charity tournament Sunday -- with the world’s preeminent golfer still on the sidelines -- to formally close the 2008 golf season.

Singh shot a five-under-par 67 to win the Chevron World Challenge and its $1.35-million first prize, adding to the $6.6 million he earned in the regular season.

His total of 11-under 277 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks gave him a one-shot edge over Steve Stricker, who shot 68.

And their performance proved far beyond the reach of Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim (the leader in the 16-player field after 54 holes), who spent the shortest day of the year slogging through long, frustrating rounds that knocked them out of contention.

Singh and other players invited to the tournament said all week that they were looking forward to Woods’ return, which likely will be next spring.

But as he accepted his check and trophy with Woods standing next to him, Singh couldn’t help but joke: “Tiger, take your time. Don’t come back too early.”

Singh sealed his win on the par-four 18th hole of the Jack Nicklaus-designed course by sinking a birdie putt of eight feet.

“I hit the ball very good off the tee” despite using a new driver, Singh said, adding that “the key for this golf course is keeping the ball in play. That’s what I did very well, and made key putts.”

In contrast, Furyk and Kim -- who were in the final pairing -- seemed bent on finding the longest way around the back nine.

Furyk started fast Sunday with birdies on three of the first five holes and was still tied for the lead through 13 holes.

But he bogeyed the 14th, 16th and 17th holes, with the bogey at the par-three 17th coming after his tee shot flew over the back of the green and embedded itself into the hillside.

And then, for the second consecutive day, Furyk double-bogeyed the par-four 18th by hitting his ball into a pond that guards the front of the green. The result: A two-over 74 for the day and five under for the tournament, tied with Camilo Villegas.

“At this moment there’s probably nothing positive I could say,” Furyk said. “I struggled with my swing the last two days and then finally under pressure it showed up.”

Furyk said before the round that he would focus on his game and not pay attention to how Kim was playing. But that wasn’t easy as Kim sliced and diced his way to a 73 to finish seven under for the event, tied with Hunter Mahan.

After opening with six consecutive pars, Kim was forced to hit his second shot on No. 7 over a pile of boulders planted in the middle of the fairway, which led to a bogey.

He rebounded on No. 9 by floating a chip shot from just off the green that rolled in for a birdie three -- prompting Kim, 23, to sheepishly drop his white cap over his face -- and gave him a share of the lead.

On the par-four 10th, his second shot sailed over the green and landed next to a wooden fence. As he and Furyk waited for an official’s ruling, Kim sat on the fence and it buckled, with a startled Kim landing on his rear end. He still made par.

Kim’s drive on the par-four 14th sailed into deep brush on the right, forcing him to take a penalty drop. That led to a double bogey. He carded another double bogey on the par-three 15th when his tee shot landed in a pond.

He birdied Nos. 16 and 17, but it was too late.

“I’m just happy that I kept under 80,” Kim said of his score. “It’s disappointing, but at the same time I put myself in position” to win.

Luke Donald had the day’s best round at 66.

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james.peltz@latimes.com