Vijay Singh elected to World Golf HoF..on a technicality

[Young Drachma]

Link

Vijay Singh wasn't exactly the people's choice, but he got just enough votes to squeak into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The 42-year-old Fijian with 25 PGA Tour victories and three major championships becomes the youngest golfer to be elected on the PGA Tour/Champions Tour ballot – although he gained admission to the Hall on a technicality. Under the rules, a player needs to receive 65 percent of the votes. Singh was named on 56 percent of the ballots. But the Hall, instead of sticking to its 65 percent rule, has qualifying language that states, "In the event no candidate receives 65%, the nominee receiving the most votes will be inducted, providing he is named on at least 50% of the ballots returned."

Larry Nelson, a three-time major championship winner with 10 PGA Tour victories and 19 Champions Tour titles, was named on 55 percent of the ballots, losing out to Singh by one percent of the vote. Curtis Strange (50 percent), Henry Picard (49) and Craig Wood (41) rounded out the top five vote getters.

Singh, who won nine times in the United States last year and has earned nearly $40 million on the PGA Tour, will be inducted in November. "On the heels of one of golf's finest single seasons, this is a richly deserved honor for Vijay and one he has dedicated his life to earning," said PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

[Young Drachma]

I thought this was an interesting pick. He's been around a while and done well. But I thought Curtis Strange would do better among the voters.

This also assures that Tiger when he gets to that point, will be a Hall of Famer without question.

[Anthony]

uhhh, since when was Tiger *not* on his way to the HOF?

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

uhhh, how long has he *not* been a HOFer?

Vijay? or Tiger?

[Anthony]

Tiger...sorry, edited my previous post to make it more clear.

[Subby]

There is nothing more lame than inducting an active player into a sport's hall of fame.

[Young Drachma]

Well it was always a given Tiger was headed there. But some of those morons who talk "Tiger slump" all the time are always asking that if his career had ended, say last year or he never won another major, would he still be a Hall of Famer.

Of course he would. But some people argued no, because he wasn't dominant for long enough.

But with Vijay getting in, there is no doubt Tiger wouldn't now - even if he never won another major. Which won't happen.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Subby

There is nothing more lame than inducting an active player into a sport's hall of fame.

But it's golf. Those dudes never stop playing. If it were the PGA Tour Hall of Fame, I'd understand where it'd be really messed up. But since it's not, at what point do they induct them? When they start to suck?

And I agree, it's kinda lame. But then, golf as lame as a pro sport until like...1997.

[Anthony]

when are players eligible for the Senior Tour? cuz i say that's when they should be first allowed to be elected into the HOF.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

when are players eligible for the Senior Tour? cuz i say that's when they should be first allowed to be elected into the HOF.

When they turn 50.

But since it's the World Golf Hall of Fame, they can't do that. Because they have a Senior Tour ballot too. Guys like Jim Dent and Isao Aoki weren't much on the PGA Tour, but they've been awesome as Senior tour players, so they got to get in to their own area in the World Golf HoF.

I dunno how to reconcile it, really. But I think maybe for the PGA Tour category, I can agree with what you're saying.

[Karlifornia]

Vijay Singh seems like such a tool.