Vijay Singh and Fred Funk are feeling feisty about their golf games heading into this week’s Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.

The season-opening event for the Champions Tour tees off this Friday on the Big Island with Singh taking part in this elite senior circuit field for the first time. USA Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III made the initial cut on Friday, but just missed the secondary cut on Saturday by a single shot.

All three figure to have shaken off the rust that the rest of the field will be dealing with, including defending Schwab Cup champion Bernhard Langer, who will be using a regular putter for the first time since joining the 50-and-older set.

Singh was tied for the lead after the opening 18 on Thursday, firing a 63, but shot only 1 under par the rest of the way to tie for 50th at 8-under 272. Funk finished one shot better than Singh at 9-under 272. He tied for 41st after closing with a 5-under 65. Singh countered with a 67.

Howell consistently good

Charles Howell III is one of those golfers who doesn’t miss this event if he can help it. Granted, he has never won here in his career, but he has been in the field every year since 2002 and has eight top 10s to show for it.

He didn’t get one on Sunday, but just missed it with a tie for 13th after shooting a final-round 68 for a 72-hole total of 13-under 267. In 15 appearances here, Howell has earned $2.426 million.

Howell tied for second in 2007 and 2012. He also had two ties for third in 2005 and 2013, and finished alone in fourth in 2009. Howell has missed the cut here only twice.

“Always enjoy coming to Hawaii,” Howell said. “I love the golf course and I love the fans. Hopefully, I can break through one of these years and get a win.”

Blair’s belly questioned

Zac Blair was questioned by PGA Tour officials as to whether he anchored his fairway metal into his belly on a par putt on the par-3 17th.

Watching it on television, it appeared it was possible his fairway metal was touching his belly, but Blair denied it afterward and his playing partners backed him up. It was apparent it shook him up when officials questioned him after his round.

“I was a bit in shock when he even asked,” Blair said, who wound up alone in third. “I was asking him, what is he talking about. I don’t know honestly what to say, other than I’m not even sure what happened until I guess I saw it. I definitely wasn’t anchoring it on purpose.”

Rules official John Lilvis had this response: “We actually wanted to do a review of it and based on where it was; it was loose and loose coming back. And it did hit the ball going through, but we asked the player and he said he did not anchor it. (The other players) said no.”

Rookies have solid start

Only three rookies made it through to the weekend with Harold Varner III securing the best finish at 12-under 268 to finish tied for 13th. He closed with a blistering 65 on Sunday and was 9 under for the weekend.

Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo tied for 33rd with a 270 and Texas A&M product Bronson Burgoon missed the secondary cut on Saturday, but will still receive a paycheck.

HOLE OF THE DAY: 13

Par 4 477 yards
The par-4 13 played tougher than any hole on Sunday with a scoring average of 4.216. There were only four birdies, 50 pars and four bogeys, including one by eventual winner Fabian Gomez. He had two bogeys for his round and 10 birdies. Among the top finishers, only Zac Blair managed a circle on his card at the unlucky 13th.

SCOREBOARD — FINAL

At Waialae Country Club • Purse: $5.8 million • Yardage: 7,044; Par 70 • x-won on second playoff hole