PGA TOUR Singh wins, will skip Colonial

His absence may cool the controversy surrounding Annika Sorenstam.
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Vijay Singh made sure there won't be any awkward meetings with Annika Sorenstam at the Colonial.
He won't be there.
After wrapping up a contentious week with a victory Sunday in the Byron Nelson Championship, Singh withdrew from the Fort Worth event that he said Sorenstam has no business playing.
A woman was behind his decision, but Singh insisted it had nothing to do with Sorenstam, who will be the first female player in 58 years to compete in a PGA Tour event.
"I told my wife last week if I won last week, I would take this week off," Singh said moments after winning the Colonial at 15-under 265, two strokes ahead of Nick Price. "So since I won this week, I'm going to take next week off."
Decision made public
Singh had made no public references to such a possibility before that. And he had plenty of time with the media, from trying to clarify his previous comments about Sorenstam on Tuesday to topping the leaderboard after the second and third rounds.
"It has nothing to do with the controversy. I've played in four straight tournaments, and I need a break," he said. "It just came at the right time, I guess."
The only scenario for Singh missing the Colonial before then had been when he said he wouldn't play if paired with Sorenstam. He also had said he hoped she missed the cut.
Singh's comments to The Associated Press the previous Sunday about Sorenstam came after he finished second in North Carolina. He backed off a bit Tuesday, saying he was sorry if his comments came across as a personal attack.
At the same time, he reiterated his objection to Sorenstam getting one of eight sponsor's exemptions into the Colonial, an invitational with a limited field.
"This is a man's tour," Singh said Tuesday. "There are guys out there trying to make a living. It's not a ladies' tour. If she wants to play, she should -- or any other woman for that matter -- if they want to play the man's tour, they should qualify and play like everybody else."
Singh overcame the controversy all week, and Sunday rallied on the back nine after losing the lead. He had birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to edge Price, whose three-putt bogey on the 475-yard 15th came just moments before Singh's 28-foot birdie from the front fringe there. Price finished with a 65.
"Vijay is a straight-up person. You always know where you stand with him," Price said. "He sure got crucified this week. It just shows you how strong the guy is that he can come back and play the way he did and win."
Moving up
It was the 13th PGA Tour victory and second of the season for Singh, who won $1,008,000 to push his season earnings to $2.9 million, fourth on the money list. He's the fifth multiple winner this season on the PGA Tour.
While Singh won't be in nearby Fort Worth, Price is the defending Colonial champion.
Price has said Sorenstam's appearance "reeks of publicity." His title defense has been overshadowed by her playing.
"I've answered more questions about Annika than how I am playing going into next week ... how long has she been invited, three months?" Price said Sunday.