Singh elected to golf Hall of Fame

Fijian named on 56 percent of ballots to edge Nelson

? Vijay Singh’s arduous journey from Fiji reached another unimaginable destination Wednesday when he was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame with the lowest percentage of votes and help from a clause in criteria.

Singh was the only player elected from the PGA Tour ballot, receiving 56 percent of the vote.

“Coming from where I am, trying to make a living and never thinking about player of the year or the Hall of Fame, this was never in my wildest dreams,” Singh said from the Houston Open.

Few have worked harder than Singh, 42, a self-taught player from tiny Fiji who toiled on tours around the world until his career took off in America. He has 25 victories on the PGA Tour, won three major championships and late last year reached No. 1 in the world ranking.

But his election to the Hall of Fame was a close call.

Players from the PGA Tour and International ballot require 65 percent of the vote for election. Hall of Fame officials two years ago added a stipulation that if no one gets 65 percent, the player with the most votes would be elected provided he is on at least 50 percent of the ballots.

Larry Nelson, who won 10 times and three major championships, finished second in the voting with 55 percent. Curtis Strange, the dominant American of his generation with 17 victories and the back-to-back U.S. Open titles, received 50 percent of the vote. Two-time major winners Henry Picard (49 percent) and Craig Woods (41 percent) rounded out the top five.