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Vijay Singh wins Deere Classic

SILVIS (Illinois) SEPT. 16. Vijay Singh played a quick 13 holes and earned a hefty check that moved him closer to one of his career goals: winning the PGA Tour's season money title.

Singh collected $630,000 for his four-shot win at the rain-delayed John Deere Classic on Monday, moving ahead of Davis Love III on this year's tour earnings list.

``My goal is to really be able to win the money list just once before I finish. This will probably be the best opportunity I get,'' said Singh of Fiji, who now has collected $5.7 million and a career-high three wins this year.

With three more PGA Tour events on his schedule this year, Singh likes his chances.

``If I can win one more time, I think I've got it sealed,'' said Singh, who also moved past Phil Mickelson for third place on the career money list with nearly $24 million in 11 years on the tour.

Singh closed with a 6-under-par 65 for a total of 16-under 268. He had six birdies in a bogey-free final round that was held over a day after darkness suspended play Sunday night.

Chris Riley (71), J.L. Lewis (71) and Jonathan Byrd (68) shared second at 12-under 272.

Riley said Singh is tough to catch when he has the lead in the final round.

``He's in the Tiger Woods, Davis Love, Mike Weir, their class. I'm trying to get there,'' said Riley, who now has six top-10 finishes this year.

Byrd said consistency is the key to Singh's game, especially with his short irons.

``He's hitting it (within) 15, 20, 10 feet all day. You do that for enough holes, you're going to make something,'' Byrd said.

Singh also is being mentioned as player of the year.

``I can control the money list. I cannot control the player of the year,'' he said.

Singh started play Monday at 12 under, tied with Lewis, who posted his lone career win at the Deere Classic in 1999.

The pair resumed their final round Monday on No. 6, and Singh began to pull away after he birdied No. 8 and Lewis followed with a bogey on No. 9.

Lewis, who used only 50 putts when he shot consecutive 6-under 65s in the first two rounds, struggled on the green over the weekend.

``I didn't feel nervous but I played like I was so I must have been,'' said Lewis, who shot even par the last two rounds.

Paul Stankowski, in his third PGA event since returning from wrist surgery, tied for fifth at 11 under with Hidemichi Tanaka and Kevin Sutherland.

The Deere Classic drew its best field after being moved back from its usual tee off in July.

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