Harrington returns to action

US Tour/Classic of New Orleans: Vijay Singh hopes to achieve back-to-back title defences this weekend with a victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and launch a repeat of his brilliant run of victories last year.

It would be difficult to imagine the world number two having a more enjoyable time in the Big Easy than he did at the Houston Open last week. He began the week by being elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame and ended it with a play-off win over John Daly for his second title of 2005.

But the smooth-swinging Fijian says the best is yet to come, and that could mean a long week for the rest of the field at the $5.5 million tournament in New Orleans, which includes only five of the world's top 20.

While Masters champion Tiger Woods and world number four Phil Mickelson continue to take time off since Augusta, other members of the top 10 are slowly returning to work.

Number seven Padraig Harrington, who is making his New Orleans debut, Chris DiMarco, back in action for the first time since losing the Masters in a play-off to Woods, and 2001 winner David Toms round out the top-10 entries.

Darren Clarke is on a break until next month's British Masters at the Forest of Arden.

"I think I'm playing better this year than I've done in the past," Singh (42), said after retaining his Houston crown. "Last year I had great results obviously, but to me I feel this year I'm more together. My whole game is more together. If I just start making a few more putts, I'll probably win a lot more events."

Last year, Singh blew away the field at the English Turn Golf and Country Club with a final round 63. This year's event has moved to the new TPC of Louisiana, but the change of venues is unlikely to cause Singh any concern. In fact, it may even play into his hands with the Pete Dye-designed, 7,520-yard, par-72 layout drawing huge comparisons to Singh's home course, the TPC at Sawgrass.

Meanwhile, former world number one Nick Price has accepted an exemption to compete in this year's US Open at Pinehurst, the United States Golf Association (USGA) have said. Price, who has dropped out of the world's top 50 after being a regular for 18 years, was offered the invitation after a vote by the USGA executive committee.

The 48-year-old Zimbabwean, winner of the US PGA Championship in 1992 and 1994 and the British Open in 1994, cut back on his playing schedule last year to spend time with his family.

He is now ranked 72nd in the world.