Singh wins rain-delayed Deere

With win, golfer leaps into top spot on PGA money list

? Vijay Singh won the rain-delayed John Deere Classic by four strokes Monday, his third title of the year that sent him to the top of this season’s PGA money list.

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.

The $630,000 first prize boosted Singh’s earnings for the year to more than $5.6 million, edging him past Davis Love III. Love, nursing a sore back, finished tied for 27th at the Quad City PGA stop.

Singh, in his first Deere Classic appearance, also is in the running for player-of-the-year honors. But he said the money list was more important to him.

“I can control the money list. I can’t control the player of the year,” said Singh, adding that Masters champion Mike Weir would top his list for that award.

With three more tournaments ahead, Singh said this year might be his best shot at topping the money list.

“If I play well, I just have no worries about what can go wrong,” said Singh, who has won 14 career PGA events.