KAPALUA, Hawaii (PA) -- World No. 10 Vijay Singh has urged the PGA TOUR to consider changing its schedule to give players more time off in the new year.
The first event of the 2008 season, the Mercedes-Benz Championship, got under way Thursday, but in a winners-only event there are some big names missing.
British Open champion Padraig Harrington, world No. 1 Tiger Woods, No. 2 Phil Mickelson and prominent Australian player Adam Scott are all skipping the event. Their absence has reduced the field to just 31 and Singh feels the top players need to be given more incentive to turn out so early in the year.
"It's just unfortunate," said Singh, the tournament's defending champion. "It's a big event and I think everybody should be grateful that we have a big event to play in.
"I would really push the [schedule] one week back," he added. "Instead of Jan. 3, start on the ninth or the 10th. I'm sure they should be able to do that."
For his part, Singh is looking to repeat last season's success and use it as a springboard for the rest of the year.
"Last year I was very disappointed in the way I played," Singh said. "Although I had two wins, I was really very discouraged in the way I played in the mid-season and during the majors.
"The two wins happened very early in the season, in the first three months, and the rest of the season was pretty cold for me," he added. "I did not perform like I thought I would. I had my chances but just never closed the deal. It was very disappointing."
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