Atrás
Vijay Singh was fired by his caddie just days before he claimed the first-place title on the PGA Tour Champions.
While splits between PGA Tour golfers and their caddies are frequent, it is rare to hear Singh admit that he was the one who got "Fired." The 63-year-old started off his season in an attempt to come back on the PGA Tour, and although that didn’t happen, he still closed out 2026 in a delightful manner.
“It’s nice to win when you haven’t won in a while,” said Singh, sinking the final putt at the Prestonwood Country Club.
Singh captured his first victory in over three years at the PGA Tour Champions’ SAS Championship right after being let go by his caddie. His former caddie quit just days before the tournament started, and Singh has a history of testing caddies.
“Well, my caddie fired me this Tuesday. I think I was a little — I was getting onto him too much,” Singh said in his press conference after the third round.
Upon sinking his last putt on the 18th hole, Singh embraced Wayne De Haas, his new caddie. Ironically, De Haas previously caddied on the Korn Ferry Tour and had recently been let go himself.
“It’s good to have Wayne back. We worked together for a while,” said Singh. “Just comfortable. Get on the tee, you don’t have to think about too much. And he’s doing most of the thinking, you just have to hit it. It’s pretty good, I’m happy to have him back.”
De Haas has previously caddied for Ernie Els and Cameron Young, but he and Singh share the common theme of being fired.
“All a coincidence,” said Singh. “[De Haas] lost his job on the Korn Ferry and my caddie fired me this week, and I just called up Wayne and I said, ‘Hey, are you ready?’
"He said, ‘Yeah.’ You know, it was a good team because I missed him, I missed what he brings to the teamwork.’ It was so much easier to play golf with somebody really knowing what they’re doing.”
In addition to his three major wins, Singh has captured 34 PGA Tour wins during his Hall of Fame career. He’s now earned six titles on the PGA Tour Champions, and it took him three years to be back in the winner's circle.
“I haven’t won in a while,” said Singh. “It’s always nice to win no matter where you’re playing, which tournament it is.
"It’s nice to win when you haven’t won in a while. I think I haven’t won in — I don’t know how many years I haven’t won, four, five years.
“This one feels good right now. Hopefully it’s going to boost me up for the next few events to come and for next year.”