By MICHAEL GRACZYK
Associated Press Writer
HUMBLE, Texas
Vijay Singh took advantage of John Daly's errant tee shot on the first hole of a playoff Sunday to win the Shell Houston Open for the second straight year and third time in four years.
Daly, who birdied the final two holes for a 67 to match Singh at 13-under 275, sent his drive on the first extra hole, the par-4 18th, into the water. Then his second shot after a drop went over the green.
Singh, who overcame putting problems to shoot a 70, calmly made par to take his 26th PGA Tour victory and second this year.
Jose Maria Olazabal (70) finished third at 11 under, one shot better than Darren Clarke (67) and Greg Owen (72).
Joe Oglivie (71) was next at 9 under, followed by six player at 8-under, including third-round co-leader Gavin Coles (75) and Jeff Maggert (71), who has finished second at this event three times.
Singh, announced this week as the newest member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, couldn't slam the door on Daly in regulation when his birdie attempt at 18 rolled just past the cup after a brilliant approach from the far right side to 8 feet of the flag.
Singh started as the co-leader at 11 under with Australian Gavin Coles and his only two birdies of the day came at the 14th and 15th holes.
He had putting problems from the beginning. He missed a 4-footer at No. 2 and two-putted from 20 feet at No. 6. A 44-foot attempt on the par-3 5th hole missed by 3 inches, but he stayed alive making 13 straight pars.
He had a chance to break his birdie drought at the 12th hole, where he came out of the sand to 10 feet from the hole, but his birdie attempt rimmed the edge of the cup and stayed out. Finally at No. 14, a 6-footer found the hole and Singh was back in front.
Daly, three shots off the lead going into play Sunday, had three birdies and two bogeys in the front half of his fourth round, then had a birdie at No. 12, converting a 5-footer.
At the 15th, a par 5, his drive went into the woods and he punched back to the fairway, then drilled his third shot to 4 feet from the pin. The birdie gave him a share of the lead for the first time.
Daly skipped his shot over the green at 16 but was able to come back for par. At 17, his approach got to with 4 1/2 feet of the flag and his birdie returned him to the lead with Singh. Moments later, however, Singh playing three groups back birdied at 15.
At the par-4 18th, Daly's second shot landed 9 feet away prompting a roar from the crowd that grew even louder after he rolled it home for birdie to go to 13-under and ultimately force the playoff.
Coles, ranked 388th in the world, matched Singh, the world's second-ranked player stroke for stroke as each parred the first seven holes.
Coles finally stumbled at the par-4 11th, where he made double bogey after his drive went far to the right into the woods and his second shot landed in the sand. A bogey at the 14th ended his chances and he finished with a 75 and four-day total of 280, five shots back.
Vijay Singh took advantage of John Daly's errant tee shot on the first hole of a playoff Sunday to win the Shell Houston Open for the second straight year and third time in four years.