By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Even on a lightly attended Pro-Am day at the Sony Open in Hawai'i, the afternoon walk from the 18th hole to the clubhouse at Waialae Country Club turned into a gauntlet for Vijay Singh.

Between signing autographs, posing for pictures — "I'm sending this to West Virginia!" one fan exclaimed triumphantly — and accepting pats on the back, Singh and his entourage had their work cut out negotiating H-1 freeway rush hour-like passage yesterday.

"They just want to see good golf and, right now, I'm the best," Singh said.

Indeed, Singh is that rarest of species to be sighted at Waialae, a reigning world's No. 1.

Holes-in-one are a dime a dozen. Sudden-death golf is commonplace by comparison. Even a 15-year-old making par has been done.

But as the Sony opens today, Singh is more than a prime contender for the $864,000 first prize in this first full-field PGA event of the season, he is a certified novelty.

In the 19 years of the Official World Golf Rankings, sadly no No. 1 has chosen to play Waialae in either of its PGA Tour forms, the Hawaiian Open or the Sony, during his reign.

Now that we've finally gotten one here a lot of eyes — those not trained exclusively on Michelle Wie's score, at least — would like Singh to show the game that carried him to nine titles last year.

With Ernie Els, the Sony defending champion, breathing down his neck in the points standings and Round 2 with Tiger Woods upcoming, Singh could use some separation.

Woods, David Duval, Nick Price, Fred Couples, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman ... all of them No. 1s in the past have given Waialae a pass. They might make it to the Mercedes Championships at Kapalua but whether it was the course, the timing or the purse, none found their way here.

Until the 41-year-old Singh, that is. Of course, he's been something of a perennial here, playing Hawai'i before he made the first of his million dollar installment of $36 million in PGA Tour earnings. "I love Hawai'i. I love playing here," Singh said. "I think it is a nice place to come. The weather has always been good."

And, so, too, have the performances and paydays with $1.7 million to show for 15 appearances between Waialae and Kapalua. Despite eight top-10 finishes and 11 top-25 showings, the one thing that has so far eluded him here , sometimes just barely, has been a championship.

That hasn't happened too many places for a globetrotter who has managed to win from the Open de Andalucia to the Zimbabwe Open. He's won 46 tournaments on various tours, just not one in Hawai'i. He's won on four continents and several islands. But none here. Yet.

Last week at the Mercedes, where he led for three rounds, nearly took care of that. Then, came a triple bogey on the final day and a 74 that dropped him into a tie for fifth.

"Last week I had the lead and didn't capitalize," Singh said. "But I feel comfortable with my game and how it is coming along. Now, I've just got to go out and finally do it.

"Maybe this is the year," he added. "I've never won in Hawai'i, so it would be a great way to start the year."

After waiting this long for a No. 1 to put in an appearance, it would be nice to see someone underline what one really looks like.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044