Kapalua, Hawaii ? Stuart Appleby had every reason to be concerned.

Five shots ahead with five holes to play Sunday in the Mercedes Championships, Appleby started playing it safe as Vijay Singh began pouring in birdies. Momentum was on the side of the big Fijian, only Appleby never flinched.

Hey, he’s Australian.

No worries, mate.

“I really felt like it was up to Vijay to catch me,” Appleby said. “I wasn’t going to let him have anything for free. I didn’t make any mistakes. And unfortunately, to the benefit of me, he ran out of holes.”

Appleby closed with a 2-under 71 and withstood a dynamic charge by Singh to win the season-opening Mercedes Championships by one stroke on the Plantation course at Kapalua.

Singh, who missed several good birdie chances all week, finally got his putter going with three straight birdies to close the deficit to two shots with two holes left.

His 15-footer on No. 17 just missed, and a 100-foot eagle putt on the 18th turned away.

“The putter took a lot away from me this week,” said Singh, who closed with a 70. “I’m not disappointed in finishing second. I’m just disappointed in not winning.”

Singh has nine consecutive finishes in the top six, a streak not even Tiger Woods has ever assembled.

Darren Clarke had a 70 and finished five shots behind in his Mercedes Championships debut.

Woods closed with two straight birdies for a 71 and tied for fourth with Retief Goosen (73). Woods earned $275,000 to top $40 million for his career.

“That’s not too bad,” Woods said. “I love inflation.”