Golfer Vijay Singh, a three-time major golf champion, will have knee surgery after this week's season-opening event and miss five weeks.

Singh, who led last year's US PGA Tour win with $US6.6 million and won the season ending playoff crown, will play in the $US5.6 million Mercedez Benz Championships before the surgery.

Singh told PGA officials after a practice round on Mondat at Kapalua that he would withdraw from the Sony Open in hawaii next week.

Singh who will turn 46 next month, is paired alongside defending champion Daniel Chopra of Sweden in tomorrow's first round of the 33-man event over the hilly Plantation course.

Singh won the Mercedez Benz crown in 2007 and the Sony Open title in 2005.