 TWO WEEKS TO SAVE YOUR JOB  How would you like to have taken 16 weeks off work already this year, and still have made almost $700,000? Now imagine if you had that kind of year, and still had uncertain job security for 2008. Cameron Beckman is a slow talking, 37-year-old Texan who began the final round of the Fry's Electronics Open in Scottsdale, Ariz., at 5-under par, just three shots out of the top 10. It's a position that probably would have secured him a very enviable job in the sports world for next year, exempt status on the PGA TOUR as one of its top 125 money winners. But Beckman bogeyed four of his first seven holes -- and hit a ball in the water at the final hole for double bogey -- so instead of cashing a check for about $150,000 and finishing in the top 10, he took home only $22,583 (the splash at No. 18 cost him $20,000 alone). Despite a third-place finish the week before in Las Vegas, he was still $40,000 behind the last guy who would get a fully-exempt status for next year, the new "bubble boy" Kevin Stadler at No. 125 on the official money list. I didn't see Beckman's eyes as he left the scoring table that Sunday afternoon (they were deeply hidden behind his wraparound shades) but I'll bet they were deeply burning. Instead of getting his 17th week off this year, Beckman is now grinding through a sixth straight week of the PGA TOUR Fall Series, traveling to a sixth different state and third different time zone for the Ginn sur Mer Classic at Tesoro in Port Saint Lucie, Fla. You can see the fatigue in all the players' eyes as they leave the scoring area each Sunday this time of year. While Beckman's eyes were as hard to see as his ball that hit the bottom of the pond at No. 18, Mark Hensby's and Alex Cejka's had a satisfied, even relieved brightness. Hensby, a 35-year-old Aussie who lives in Phoenix, won the John Deere Classic in 2004 and played in The Presidents Cup in '05, just two years ago. Yet, he began the week a disappointing 151st on the money list, dismal enough that he might have been too embarrassed to send in his application for q-school, and likely forcing him to lean on his status as a "Past Champion" to play many events next year. Instead, he finished second, banked $540,000 and jumped to 99th place, thus assuring himself of a full-time gig in 2008 and allowing him to say he wasn't worried about next year. Cejka, on the other hand, was almost giddy. He began the week No. 125 on the money list and therefore "on the bubble," then rallied from an opening-hole double bogey on Sunday to finish tied for sixth, moving up to 110th on the money list and keeping his job for next year. Was he worried when he made an ugly opening double? Alex told me it wasn't his first rodeo. At 37 and after having fled the Czech Republic with his father when he was 9, Cejka had been through far worse. But now he could untie his trademark pony tail and let his hair down, something many players are hoping to do in the final events of the year. SUDDEN THOUGHTS AND SECOND THOUGHTS  The inaugural PGA TOUR Fall Series is moving toward the finish line, but I am jumping off the PGA TOUR Network freight train here in San Antonio in order to work other broadcast assignments for the remainder of the year. Seasons seem to rush by so quickly. I have been to 17 PGA TOUR events this year, and traveled more than 40,000 miles. I started the season with a frost delay in Palm Springs, and will conclude with a 90-degree October afternoon in San Antonio. I thought you might enjoy some of my impressions from the past season, but please note I'm only listing info from tournaments at which I worked. So, if your city or player isn't mentioned, I was probably not working at that particular event. Shot of the Year: Phil Mickelson Toughest Course: Spyglass Hill Golf Club Best Property: Muirfield Village Golf Club Best Interview: Joey Sindelar Nice Guy Award: Steve Stricker Best Dressed: Tiger Woods Best Steakhouse: Bob's Steak and Chop House Best Fast Food: Waffle House Best Margaritas: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Best Beer Garden: EDS Byron Nelson Championship Best Hotel: Crowne Plaza Classy Car: John Daly's Maybach Favorite Airport: El Paso Well, those are some of my most memorable impressions from the season, but I look forward to making the turn with the PGA TOUR Network and calling more shots next year. IN THE FOOTPRINTS OF GREATNESS  Before we completely turn the page on the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and get too deep into PGA TOUR Fall Series, I want to reflect back on THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola and a remarkable coincidence that joins together the past with the present. I got to walk along with Zach Johnson at East Lake Golf Club, and describe his course-record round of 60 on Saturday. This year's Masters champion almost holed a bunker shot on No. 18 to shoot 59, something that has only happened three times in PGA TOUR history. On Sunday, Johnson was grouped just in front of Tiger Woods, so I also got to witness Woods' tournament-record 23-under par total. Those were two rounds of spectacular shot making that I felt privileged to describe, but 85 years before Woods claimed his championship -- in fact, 85 years to the day -- perhaps an even more impressive round of golf at East Lake was played. Bobby Jones shot the lowest round of his career on September 16, 1922. The 20-year-old, playing alongside his father on a late Saturday afternoon, shot 63 on the same East Lake layout. O.B. Keeler, writing for the Atlanta Journal, described the round shot for shot. East Lake played as a par 72 that fall afternoon, and from 6,570 yards, Jones scored 31-32. He took just 12 putts going out, and 14 coming on the inward nine. He recorded nine birdies in a sterling bogey-free round. It was the best round Jones would ever shoot. East Lake Golf Club has changed many times since then. During this year's TOUR Championship, the course played 7,154 yards to a par of 70. It featured a different length and different par value, but the routing was the exact same. There is a mystical timeline in sports that connects the past with the present, and it connected Sept. 16, 1922 to Sept. 16, 2007. Eighty-five years of competition and history repeated itself, with a course and tournament record at East Lake Golf Club. I like to think somehow, someway, Bobby Jones was watching and gave his approval. Now, bring on the rest of the Fall Series. *For more on East Lake Golf Club and Bobby Jones I recommend Where Bobby Learned To Play by Linton C. Hopkins, published by McGuire Publishing Company, Inc. of Atlanta, Ga. GUARANTEED DELIVERY  This week the "Golf Plus" special edition of Sports Illustrated previews the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. The clever play on words "Will it Deliver?" adorns the cover. Well, you could have made honey with the buzz in the media center last week in Greensboro after Tiger Woods announced he was skipping the first round of the new four-tournament series. The general consensus was that Woods had mocked the Playoffs by ducking out of the first event despite saying several times that he intended to play them all. But whether some people care to admit it or not, what Tiger has done -- albeit unintentionally -- is make the Playoffs that much more exciting. Because of the way the points have been reset, his enormous regular-season lead over the field is now minuscule. Anyone inside the top 60 in FedExCup points after the reset would pass Woods by winning The Barclays, anyone in the top nine who finishes third or better at Westchester Country Club will pass him, and Vijay Singh will overtake Woods if he simply finishes 13th or better. In addition, if any of the top half-dozen or so players win, it would just about force Tiger to win one of the remaining events to reclaim his lead. That sounds easy enough -- particularly since he's the defending champ at next week's Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston and has won at Cog Hill in suburban Chicago three times -- but Tiger knows as well as anyone just how hard it is to win against the best players in the world. In fact, until his back-to-back wins at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship, he hadn't won since early May at the Wachovia Championship. Tiger's decision to rest and prepare this week could actually be compared to regular-season leaders in other major sports enjoying a bye week to recharge before the final push. This year the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears took advantage of such weeks to heal and went on to the Super Bowl. In fact, rarely does a team that has to play during the first week of the NFL Playoffs go all the way to the championship game. The question is always "rested or rusted" when a player or team has a week off, and while rested usually wins out, since this is our first run through the PGA TOUR Playoffs we have no idea. Tiger is clearly rolling the dice, which has actually added a new element to the chase. Because of that and whatever other twists and turns that might surprise us over the next month, we shouldn't judge these Playoffs before they've really gotten started. One thing I know is that with all the conversation generated over the inaugural PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, the initiative has already "delivered" because we're talking about golf after the PGA Championship. OBSERVATIONS FROM MY WEEK AT THE WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP  Casa di Marino -- A Family Affair Steve Marino has a regular PGA TOUR caddy, but wanted to help his younger brother out a little before the season ended. Scott is a senior at James Madison University and a member of the golf team. He's had a wonderful collegiate career, and recently tied for 21st at the prestigious Eastern Amateur. Scott has aspirations of playing on TOUR as well, and now has a better idea of what it takes survive amidst the best players in the world on a weekly basis. Before the final round on Sunday I asked Scott how he felt about the week. "This has been great. I love it," he replied. He also indicated that he's learned a great deal from the experience. His mother Fran explained: "Steve decided to ask Scott if he wanted to caddy for him this week, just to gain some experience and possibly make some good money before going back to school." She went on to say that this was a one-time deal, and Scott has no aspirations to caddy on TOUR but would love to make it as a player. We've seen a number of brothers attempt to make it as players on the PGA TOUR in the past, and the list includes such names as Willie and Mark Turnesa, Lionel and Jay Hebert, Joe and John Inman, Lanny and Bobby Wadkins and even Jackie and Gary Nicklaus. Who knows, maybe the next dynamic sibling combo has already started. Steve Marino finished the Wyndham Championship in a tie for 37th and finished the PGA TOUR Regular Season No. 63 on the FedExCup points list. Sindelar Moving On - Farewell, Mr. Nice Guy! "I love the people of Greensboro," Sindelar said. "There is just something about this place, and even though I have seen the course change and the time of year change, I just had to be here for this last one." Sindelar was referring to "the last one" because he is 49 years old and looking ahead to playing full time on the Champions Tour next year. Mr. Sindelar, Greensboro and the PGA TOUR thank you for being such a great ambassador. But the folks of Greensboro and the title sponsor of the Wyndham Championship need not panic, because the tournament has a replacement ... Snedeker Moving In -- Hello, Mr. Nice Guy! When Brandt Snedeker made his 32-foot birdie putt on No. 17 to move to 22-under par and essentially lock up the 2007 Wyndham Championship -- and possibly PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year honors -- I started thinking about this emerging star from Tennessee. I have gotten to know Snedeker a little bit over this season on the PGA TOUR, and I suspect anyone that comes across this young man will come away with the same impression he left on me and the rest of the crew on the PGA TOUR Network. I have never heard a negative word said about the guy. We have watched Snedeker work the autograph lines, signing and speaking with the kids forwhat amounts to hours, both before and after play. I have watched him show class and poise when faced with both awkward and unusual situations on the golf course. Snedeker handles his emotions like a champion, whether he has a good or bad performance, and America seems to be falling in love with his long locks and boyish grin. Is Brant Snedeker the heir apparent to Joey Sindelar as the resident "Mr. Nice Guy" on the PGA TOUR? He gets my vote! WHO WILL BE THE WIZARD OF THE WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP?  The tournament now known as the Wyndham Championship was built in large part by Sam Snead's record eight victories, and by legends like Byron Nelson and Billy Casper, each of whom won twice in Greensboro. It is a grand old event, but despite being a mainstay of the PGA TOUR for nearly seven decades -- long enough for Al and Brent Geiberger, father and son, to both win the title -- its getting accustomed to a new place on the schedule this year. Now sandwiched between the PGA Championship and the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, the tournament lost a few of the bigger names who needed to cool off between Southern Hills and the sprint to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. But who could have foreseen the withdrawal of defending champion, course restorer and Tar Heel extroardinaire Davis Love III with kidney stones? But despite those obstacles, this week's Wyndham Championship has more subplots than an undertaker's convention, and it might just be one of the most interesting tournaments of the year. Just like the NBA, NFL and NHL playoffs, much of the focus right now is on the guys just trying to qualify for the postseason, and all the characters -- with all their individual stories -- are in Greensboro. Those of you who say you love John Daly because he represents the "everyman" or blue-collar golfer, this is your week. Because even though Daly -- who is currently ranked No. 166 in FedExCup points -- is playing in Europe and has given up any chance to make the playoffs, all but one player between he and Corey Pavin (currently 134th in the standings) are in Greensboro, desperately trying to not only keep their playoff hopes alive, but playing a little defense in protection of their TOUR cards for next year. Those who make the playoffs get to keep playing for the next month, while those who don't qualify will have to wait for the Fall Series in order to -- in essence -- save their jobs. (And you think Tiger had pressure on him at Southern Hills last week?) Then there's the group who's already in the playoffs, but still have dreams of the $10 million bonus that goes to the FedExCup winner. With only the top 30 players gaining entry into THE TOUR Championship -- and just the top 70 reaching the BMW Championship -- there are nearly 20 players who've been winners on TOUR this year (such as Brian Bateman at No. 59 and Joe Ogilvie at No. 76) who could make a Cinderella playoff run and hoist that first FedExCup. But in addition to the FedExCup points race, don't forget about all the big-time tournament perks that will go to the Wyndam Championship winner as well. The two-year TOUR exemption, tickets to Kapalua in January for the Mercedes-Benz Championship, a visit to Augusta National in April for the Masters, and the honor of joining Snead, Casper, Nelson, Raymond Floyd, Craig Stadler, and Seve Ballesteros as champions in Greensboro. Who would have thought anybody would read a series of books about someone named Harry Potter and his teenage pals going off to witchcraft school written by a woman named J.K? The magic this week at the Wyndham Championship could come from any one of 156 wizards of the wedges, each weilding their own magic wands. DETERMINING THE BEST GOLFER OF ALL TIME  Jay Randolph Jr. When, oh when, will it be politically correct, golf correct or just plain right to call Eldrick "Tiger" Woods the GREATEST GOLFER OF ALL TIME? Who decides? The members of the PGA TOUR, their fans, the media, or is it Mr. Jack Nicklaus himself? Does Tiger have to win 19 professional majors, or does he have to get to a combination of his three U.S. Amateur championships along with 17 professional majors, the way Nicklaus counts his majors? Does he have to equal the Golden Bear's 19 second-place finishes in majors, as well as exceed his victory total? Does he have to form his own golf manufacturing company, or build some 500 golf courses around the world? There is no answer, but I hope at some point Mr. Nicklaus will step up to a podium and say: "Ladies and gentleman, I am now the second-best golfer of all time. Tiger is the best ever!" (Don't hold your breath, because the same competitive fire that helped Nicklaus become golf's greatest champion still burns today.) The debate, discussion and minutia will continue at least until TW wins his 19th professional major. I already consider him to be the best to have ever placed his hands on a club, but my vote doesn't count with the masses. With that in mind, let's look into golf's crystal ball and try to predict when Mr. Woods will get his due! Tiger will not only win the Masters in 2008, but in my opinion he will win his third U.S. Open at Torrey Pines next June, just outside San Diego where he once won the Junior World Championship. That will take Tiger to 15 professional major titles. I don't think he will win the Open Championship next year or the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, so at the end of next year, I predict he will be four professional majors away from topping Jack Nicklaus. I think the following year will probably bring a second child to the Woods clan, and I predict he will increase his major total in 2009 as well. It will be another two-major year for "The Chosen One," and look much like a repeat of 2008. Woods will tie Nicklaus' six victories at Augusta National and claim his sixth Green Jacket at the age of 33. He will once again win the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, site of his 2002 U.S. Open title. However, just like the previous year, Woods will not win the Open Championship at Turnberry, nor will he win his fifth Wanamaker Trophy when the PGA Championship is contested at Hazeltine. But don't worry, when the year concludes, Tiger will be just two professional major championships shy of breaking the Golden Bear's incredible mark. Fast forward to 2010 and the following four majors: The Masters at Augusta National, the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf, the Open Championship at St. Andrews and the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis. Fourteen years after turning professional, the man will be facing these attractive venues in his final push to surpass Jack Nicklaus' professional major record. Oh, the drama. But will it really be that dramatic? Not really! Remember, this is Tiger Woods. Consider his passion for history, and don't discount his propensity to get it done at the right time on the grandest of stages. I say he comes close at Augusta but falls just short. That leaves the next two major championships -- at two of the most famous golf courses in the world -- to rewrite the history books. The last time the U.S. Open was played at Pebble Beach, Tiger only won the tournament by 15 strokes and set the U.S. Open scoring record by four shots. Is there a more fitting place for Tiger to equal Jack Nicklaus' record of professional majors than Pebble Beach Golf Links? NO! Jack won the 1961 U.S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach, he won the 1972 U.S. Open at Pebble, and he won three times at what is now the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. It's only fitting that Mr. Woods win his 18th professional major at what many describe as the perfect union of land and sea. The next month it will be on to St. Andrews, with a chance to pass the Golden Bear at the birthplace of golf. Let's look back at Tiger's success at the Old Course. In 2000 he demolished the field at the Open Championship, posting a record-breaking 19-under-par total and winning by eight strokes. He returned in 2005 and collected his second Claret Jug at St. Andrews, winning by five strokes over Colin Montgomerie. The 2010 Open Championship will mark 55 professional major appearances. It will also be his 19th professional major victory! Tiger Woods will take down Jack Nicklaus' record at the "Home of Golf." How fitting! There will still be complaints. Why does he have to cuss after a bad shot? Why doesn't he play in more tournaments? He never finished second 19 times in a major! (I also hope anyone so racist they don't like Mr. Woods because of his skin color will have to keep their foot in their mouth.) How unlikely will it be for this scenario to actually play out? I am calling for him to win six of the next 11 major championships, and break Jack Nicklaus' record at just 34 years old. How unlikely were his three U.S. Junior Amateur Championships, followed by three U.S. Amateur titles? How unlikely were his performances at the 1997 Masters, his comeback at Pebble Beach to catch Matt Gogel and win the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and his demolition of the fields at both Pebble Beach and St. Andrews in 2000? Tiger is already the "Greatest of All Time" in my mind, but in 2010, I predict the awkward debate will cease. The torch will be passed, and maybe -- just maybe -- Jack Nicklaus will be on hand at St. Andrews to give Tiger a "Bear" hug! P - G - A IS H - O - T  My home state of Alabama is not first in many categories -- although University of Alabama football fans are hoping Nick Saban will help change that this year -- but one area in which we don't take a back seat to anyone is summer heat. Just ask any player or spectator who attended the PGA Championship in Birmingham, Ala., at Shoal Creek in either 1984 or 1990, and he or she will certainly tell you "Sweat Home Alabama" in August is one of the hottest places on the planet. That's why I'm a little amused by all the fuss surrounding this week's forecast in Tulsa, Okla. for the 2007 PGA Championship. The local meteorologist on the late news has been making it sound somewhat ominous, predicting a high temperature of 101 degrees every day of the tournament. But that shouldn't come as much of a surprise for this time of year, especially when you consider the 1970 PGA Championship contested at Southern Hills was the hottest major venue in history. That week, when Dave Stockton took home the Wanamaker Trophy, the average temperature was a sizzling 100.3 degrees. No. 2 on the hot list was the 1963 PGA Championship at Dallas Athletic Club, which averaged 99.3 for the week. At the awards ceremony that Sunday, Jack Nicklaus -- who won the first of his five PGA Championships that year -- found the trophy too hot to handle, because it had been sitting outside all afternoon in 103-degree heat. That simmering Sunday remains the single hottest day in PGA Championship history, and Nicklaus would eventually wrap a towel around the handles of the trophy just so he could hoist it in victory. Dave Ragan -- who finished second to Nicklaus by two shots and is currently the director of golf at Pine Tree Country Club in Birmingham -- told me last week it was so hot you had to run in from the parking lot, because if you stood in one spot too long, your spikes would melt into the blacktop. I find it ironic -- or maybe sadistic -- that the PGA of America chose to return to Southern Hills to commemorate the 20th anniversary of what many consider the hottest major championship in history, the 1987 PGA Championship at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. It remains the last major on the PGA TOUR held in South Florida, and for good reason. The average temperature was "only" 94 degrees that week, but the brutal combination of the South Florida sun and horrible humidity nearly wilted the field. Larry Nelson and Lanny Wadkins were tied at the end of regulation, with the highest 72-hole score in PGA Championship history (1-under par 287), and eventually Nelson -- an Alabama native, by the way -- survived the heat and won in a playoff. Earlier that week, Arnold Palmer was sweating so profusely, he asked a nearby spectator to run to the tennis shop and buy him some sweatbands. As far as I know, Palmer became the first golfer to wear sweatbands in a major championship. Certainly those golfers in the best physical condition should have an advantage this week. In the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, Pa., 300-pound amateur champion Chris Patton lasted only eight holes before withdrawing because of the oppressive heat. That same week, Colin Montgomerie left the course with heat stress. (Montgomerie would later bounce back and wind up in an 18-hole playoff with Ernie Els and Loren Roberts, which Els eventually won for his first major championship.) Amazingly, Monty showed up for the playoff that Monday in a dark blue shirt and pants, explaining afterwards that he had run out of clothes. (Couldn't he have bought a white shirt in the pro shop?) Montgomerie eventually wilted in the heat and shot a 78. There has been talk for years that players should be allowed to wear shorts, but I'm glad they don't. There are some things that should never change, and one of them is the rule of a professional golfer's wardrobe. (The caddies do catch a break, but while they get to wear shorts, they also have to wear a bib.) But one golfer who isn't bothered by the sultry conditions is 2007 Open Championship winner Padraig Harrington, who explained to me earlier this week that once you've played a few tournaments in Malaysia, everything else pales in comparison. I've never been to Malaysia, but if it's hotter than Tulsa or Birmingham, I don't want to go. HAS TIGER MET HIS MATCH?  Forget Rory's bluster or Vijay's experience or Phil's grin or Sergio, Adam Scott or any of the rest who've challenged Tiger Woods over the last few years. Tiger has seen the future, even been paired with it, and the word he used was "impressed." I don't blame you if you'd never heard of Andres Romero before Open Championship Sunday, I never had either. Even after two wins in his native Argentina, he began 2006 ranked 384th in the world. Another win in his homeland and the 165-pound dynamo had risen to 109th at the beginning of the year, but was only 114th when he went on his rampage at Carnoustie -- that fearless 10-birdie, two-bogey, two-double-bogey final round of 67 announcing his arrival on the world scene. Ten birdies at Carnoustie in one round? Tiger remarked that he barely made 10 birdies all week. Romero's world ranking jumped to 51st, but he still didn't clinch a spot in last week's World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational until he followed the British Open with a European Tour win in Germany the very next week that vaulted him to 29th in the world. But still, you wondered, was he fad or fashion? Tiger got his first look at Romero last week, playing with him Thursday and Friday at Firestone, a course Tiger'd won on five times previously and young Andres had never seen before. Romero was certainly curious. "I just hope I don't get caught up watching Tiger and stick to my game," he said. Smart kid. But intimidated? After Romero shot 71-71 to Tiger's 68-70, Woods commented that the Argentine "hit the ball awfully long. He's longer with irons than I am and probably slightly longer with the driver. I can see how, he's pretty aggressive. He's got good touch around the greens and you can see just by his aggressive nature, if he gets it going and plays well, he can really shoot some low numbers." Both shot 1-under 69s on Saturday, and while Tiger blew the doors off Firestone Country Club on Sunday, Romero went stroke-for-stroke on the front nine and made an indelible impression with his combination of power and finesse, driving the ball 400 yards (in the rain, with no wind) at the eighth hole and 390 at the ninth, birdieing the toughest hole on the course. Yes, his final round wasn't without its unexplainable disaster, ala Carnoustie. After that birdie at No. 9, Andres chipped from the deep rough in front of the 10th green to the deep rough behind, then whiffed -- yes, whiffed -- his fourth shot, ending up with a triple-bogey 7 that knocked him out of a chance to finish second to Tiger. Still, he kept firing at pins, showing an excellent touch, an ability to learn from every tour of the course, and in something you don't see from a lot of the 20-somethings on TOUR, a swagger, a fearless streak, an aura of toughness born from 10 years playing around the world (he turned pro at 16). Just a feeling here, but this kid has something special. Romero ended up sixth, not a bad finish at all against one of the most elite fields of the year, and he is now 25th in the Official World Golf Ranking headed into the PGA Championship this week. Lo and behold, he is also now 10th on the Presidents Cup points list for the International Team. After nearly conquering Carnoustie and firing fearlessly at Firestone, who knows what might happen at Southern Hills, or at least next month at Royal Montreal? Maybe a matchup with Woods in the Presidents Cup? And maybe a nickname to rival Woods' as well. How about Andres the Giant Killer? MOTIVATING TIGER?  Coming off an eight-shot win at Firestone, where he never led until the front nine of the final round, Tiger Woods shouldn't need much confidence, or motivation, heading into the PGA Championship in a rare season when he still hasn't won a major. But here's something for Tiger-lovers to chew on. Maybe this is a defining week for Woods to break free from Jack Nicklaus' aura. Tiger's incredible winning run at Firestone isn't quite as unbelievable when you realize that Jack won a half-dozen times there as well -- "owning" it once as much as Tiger does now. Jack's "other" home courses were Augusta National and St. Andrews, two venues where Mr. Woods has had similar success. They've been the "horses for the courses" at many of the same places. But what about Southern Hills? Curiously, both played it very early in their careers; Jack as an amateur in the '58 Open where he tied for 41st (with Sam Penecola) and Tiger in the '96 TOUR Championship, where he finished 21st after sleepless nights in a Tulsa hospital with his father, who had heart issues. At the 1977 Open, going for his 15th major at age 37, Jack tied for 10th, his sixth straight major without a win in a streak that would reach 10 until he won the British Open in 1978. Then in 1982, at age 42 and with 17 of his 18 majors already won, Jack finished 16th in the PGA, his worst finish in the majors that year. Tiger's only other trips around Southern Hills were at the 2001 Open, where the burden of the Tiger Slam, an unprecedented run of four straight majors, finally brought him down, as he got off to a bad start and finished tied for 12th with Michael Allen, Matt Gogel and Sergio Garcia. But nobody scored any better on the weekend than Woods. If you catch Tiger's ear, tell him he can do something this week that the Bear could not -- conquer Southern Hills and erase a few of his own demons, as well. That ought to wind up his motivational clock. Obviously, any picks this week begin and end with Woods. If he plays well, he wins, period. He played great at Firestone, leading the field in driving distance, greens hit and also in scrambling. Scrambling could be a key at Southern Hills, a course that has rewarded great iron players like Hubert Green, Raymond Floyd, Nick Price and Retief Goosen with major championships. Goosen, Stewart Cink, Mark Brooks and Rocco Mediate were the only four players under par in the '01 Open and none of them has done much lately. The hottest players right now are Hunter Mahan, Andres Romero, Kenny Perry and K.J. Choi. Choi and Romero are new to Southern Hills but Perry was fourth when THE TOUR Championship was played there in '96, and here's one you can win a buck at the bar with Mahan won the Big 12 Championship in 2002 by 13 shots at Southern Hills. This week won't be that easy. 'MAY' THE GOLF GODS TEASE US AGAIN AT THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP?  There are two types of tragic characters in golf. The first fall victim to their own misfires, or mistakes. Doug Sanders, Roberto De Vicenzo and Jean Van de Velde were all victims of their own miscues. They are tragic icons whose positive accomplishments may always be overlooked, begging the question: "What in the wide world of sports happened out there?" The second fall victim to a competitor's great play, or "inexorable fate" as legendary sports writer Dan Jenkins coined the phrase years ago. While it didn't exactly include any tragic figures, one of the best examples of this occurred in the "Duel in the Sun" during the 1977 Open Championship at Turnberry, Scotland. Jack Nicklaus' final-round 66 placed him 10 strokes ahead of third-place Hubert Green, but one shot short of a victory following Tom Watson's brilliant 65 on Sunday to capture his second Open Championship. (In case you're wondering, Greg Norman qualifies for both categories. But my focus is on the public's most sympathetic victim of the more recent modern era of American golf, who we'll get to in a moment.) Meanwhile, Tiger Woods has slayed more dragons than Beowulf. Chris DiMarco, Matt Gogel, Grant Waite, David Duval, Charles Howell III, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh -- the list goes on and on. But the golfer he defeated in a three-hole playoff at the 2000 PGA Championship -- Valhalla's unforgettable tragic character, Bob May -- stands alone in my memory, and continues to chase his dreams. That's right, soft-spoken Bob May is still out there plugging away at the age of 38 years old. He has never finished better than second in a PGA TOUR event, and other than the year of his memorable major championship bid, May has never finished better than 94th on the official money list. The other eight years May has been on TOUR, he finished outside the top 125 on the money list. But his inspired play at the 2000 PGA Championship created a head-to-head dual with Tiger Woods. That week, May followed an opening-round 72 with spectacular rounds of 66-66-66. The final round was a stroke-for-stroke slugfest, as both players traded birdies on the back nine. After each of them birdied the 72nd hole, Woods won a three-hole playoff with a 1-under par aggregate score, barely edging May's even-par total for the three holes. Have you ever noticed what happens when you mention the name Bob May to any golfer? Their expression turns a bit sad, and their stomach tightens slightly. They say with sincerity things like: "Boy, he sure gave Tiger a run back in that PGA." You can almost see them replaying those unforgettable putts on the 18th hole at Valhalla in their head. Many people do not realize that since the 2000 PGA Championship, May has struggled with his health on and off the course. A bad back left May incapable of swinging a club, or even a broom for that matter. The pain first came while he was hitting his tee shot on the 72nd hole of the 2003 EDS Byron Nelson Championship. "I felt pain down my legs," said May. "I thought: 'Okay, I just kind of rotated my pelvis or something.' I could still walk fine. I got up to the next shot, and I went to swing again, and thank God it was just like a little 9-iron or something into that last hole. I pulled it just off the edge of the green and made the putt. I was planning on taking the next week off, anyway." A week turned into a month, and May still didn't feel any better. Any time he rotated his spine, he said: "I was done." Finally, a year after the injury, he went to Santa Monica, Cal. for surgery in the spring of '04. It went well, but the recovery process has not been easy. May could not even get himself out of bed for several months, but he has battled back admirably. Through the Canadian Open presented by Franklin Templeton Investments, May had made five cuts in eight tournaments this year, with his best finish a T41 at the John Deere Classic. All these tournaments and many years later, May still has the determination and ability to keep at it, to keep plugging away towards his goal: Win on the PGA TOUR. The golf world will embrace the first Bob May win, but as fate would have it, he is not in the field this week at the PGA Championship. Perhaps another unexpected pursuer will rise to the occasion this week at Southern Hills, much like Bob May captured our attention -- and earned our respect -- at the 2000 PGA Championship, and beyond.  THREE KEY QUESTIONS TO PONDER ON THE PGA TOUR While I greatly enjoyed my three weeks away from covering the PGA TOUR, I am looking forward to what the next two months will provide myself and golf fans all over the world. I will be covering eight of the next nine tournaments -- talk about racking up frequent-flyer miles! Three big-time questions still remain: Who will win Player of the Year, who will win Rookie of the Year, and who will win the inaugural FedExCup? Throw in the final major of the season -- the PGA Championship -- as well as this year's edition of The Presidents Cup in Montreal, and we've got ourselves a tremendous two-month stretch. Player of the year If the voting were today, I guess I would go with Tiger. He has three wins, two second place finishes in majors, leads the FedExCup standings and carries the lowest scoring average at 68.60. Vijay is second in the FedExCup points standings and is also right being Tiger in scoring. I put both Masters champ Zach Johnson and K.J. Choi ahead of Phil Mickelson in the grouping of multiple winners. I know Phil won a big-time event at THE PLAYERS Championship, but his play this summer in the U.S. has been less than stellar. Jim Furyk is the man on the move! He has jumped to third in the FedExCup standings, and has eight top-10 finishes in eighteen events. The quiet competitor from Pennsylvania is also third in scoring average behind Tiger and Vijay. If Furyk had enjoyed his normal putting year, who knows how many titles he might have claimed? Furyk has struggled with the flat-stick this season, and was 97th in putts per round through the Canadian Open. Most likely to be player of the year: Tiger Woods Rookie of the year Brandt Snedeker is making a strong bid to earn Rookie-of-the-Year honors. He was 25th on the FedExCup points list through the Canadian Open, and led all rookies with five top-10 performances -- including four in his last six starts. The former U.S. Amateur Public Links Champion -- who bears a resemblance to Huck Finn -- has been solid throughout the season. Unlike Snedeker, Jeff Quinney has not been quite as consistent. The former U.S. Amateur Champion got off to red-hot start, with four consecutive top-10s on the west coast, including a third-place finish at the FBR Open. Quinney was 34th on the FedExCup standings through the Canadian Open, but had only one top-10 since February. The final candidate at the current time is Steve Marino. While we hardly ever discuss this cat, Marino has just gotten it done in his rookie campaign. He was 59th on the FedExCup standings through July, and had four top-10s and nine top-25 finishes on TOUR. If he has a strong fall, he could definitely take home the title of Rookie of The Year. Most likely to be rookie of the year: Brandt Snedeker FedExCup champion The next two weeks -- while not part of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup -- are much like key weekend series in baseball, coming down the home stretch of the season. Positioning for the postseason is such a key for success. And while the likelihood that somebody out of the top 30 will win the FedExCup is not high, remember the Redbirds. Let's say that young gun Trevor Immelman, who was 45th in the FedExCup standings heading into August, wins The Barclays and finishes in the top 10 at the Deutsche Bank Championship. If he successfully defends his title in Chicago at the BMW Championship the following week, and has a top-10 finish at the season-ending TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, he could certainly win the inaugural FedExCup. How will the best players in the world handle the fact that they will probably be playing in six out of seven tournaments to finish up the FedExCup, especially "Lefty" and his questionable wrist? I'm not even sure how the broadcasters and writers will handle all the work, let alone the best sticks in the world! Most likely to be FedExCup champion: Tiger Woods The bottom line is the FedExCup has provided exactly what the PGA TOUR had hoped for in its inaugural year. There is a ton still on the line, with some great fields and venues to showcase both how great the game is and how healthy the PGA TOUR presently stands. Sit back and enjoy this wild ride to finish, as the FedExCup looks to deliver right on time! JUST WIN, BABY  Two of golf's better-known names broke out of winless streaks last weekend with similarly unconventional swings. Natalie Gulbis finally shed the "Anna Kournikova Of Golf" label so many had placed upon her with a dramatic playoff victory in the Evian Masters, while Jim Furyk (who probably has never been linked with Natalie in any sentence before) successfully defended his title at the Canadian Open presented by Franklin Templeton Investments. Furyk's victory, his first since the Canadian Open last year, was achieved in completely different fashion, as he roared from three shots down at the start of the day with a birdie-birdie-par-ace opening to pass Vijay Singh before the World Golf Hall of Famer had putted out on the second green. What makes both victories so appealing is that they were achieved with swings that you won't find on any teacher's DVD. Both were family-taught and have fought off the urge to change just because some so-called experts thought their swings looked "funky" -- which Jim and Natalie admit they are. There's plenty of good news in this for all of us. The first lesson could be that while we all should take a few lessons to understand the fundamentals and find "our" swing, we might not need as many lessons as we think. We don't have to have a completely re-made swing, and certainly not one made like that of Furyk or Gulbis. But we do need a swing we can trust, especially in the clutch. Jim's always been able to trust his, and now maybe Natalie will trust hers completely. For all the talk about their unconventional swings, the game is still won on the greens and these two didn't get their putting techniques out of a textbook either. Furyk's left-hand-low was a product of his teacher-father's questioning of the big-time pros of his era, who all said they'd have gone "cross-handed" years before if they knew then what they know now. Jim's been using it ever since. Gulbis' "hammy" putter style actually makes a lot of sense, but is certainly unique. Anyone who's ever held a hockey stick in their hand and tried to get a puck to go in the net splits their hands before they slap it. Why not do the same with a putter? Just because nobody else does? The most important lesson we can take from their victories is that while we don't have to play this game any certain way, we do need to either play it, or practice it, far more than any of us do. If we can make that swing of ours the same, over and over, we'll be just fine in pressure situations -- even without the classic moves of Tiger Woods or Ernie Els or any number of fabulous women players. All of their swings have quirks, too, but while we're lucky to make the same swing twice in the same nine, they know they can strike the ball the same way all day, most every day. That's why it has driven Tiger so crazy when he's left his swing on the range lately -- and what drives him, and Furyk, and Gulbis, and all the best players back to the practice tee after every round. How does a golfer get to the winner's circle? The same way a singer gets to Carnegie Hall. THE RISE OF THE LOONIES  The headlines in the Canadian papers was all about the rise of the "loonies" -- the Canadian dollar, that's now worth almost the same as its American counterpart. But I thought I was reading a U.S. sports page when I saw the word "loonies." What's going on in our sports world? I can't figure out which sport's gotten the blacker eye lately. NFL football with Michael Vick's issues? The NBA with a referee accused of betting on, and maybe even helping fix, games? Baseball with Barry Bonds' chase of the home run record while steroid allegations abound and his own personal trainer is in the cooler? Cycling, where just about everyone who's anyone has been tossed out of the Tour De France with the race still going on? You might think these are all just passing problems, but it wasn't so long ago that horse racing and boxing were huge sports on our landscape, before scandal and the sports' mishandling of the response to those problems doomed both to the back pages. Golf's biggest problem right now is Tiger Woods not playing in enough events to satisfy everyone who wants to see him play. Gary Player opened a small can of worms last week at the Open Championship with his comments about performance-enhancing drugs, but nobody's corraborating his statements. Yes, there are some puists who are yacking about the golf ball going too far, but the fans love it. So about the most controversy you can stir up is if you argue whether Tiger's having an off-year because he hasn't won a major yet. But dogfighting, gambling and performance-enhancing drugs? Sure is nice that all we can stir up in the suburban Toronto farmland here is whether or not Mike Weir and Stephen Ames are worthy Captain's Picks, by Player no less, for the upcoming Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal, eh? THREE CHEERS FOR IMPARTIAL COVERAGE  There has been some internal discussion at the PGA TOUR Network recently about rooting for players during a broadcast. Any type of rooting is highly unprofessional, yet at the same time, very human. I am reminded of an essay from the great British journalist Bernard Darwin, who wandered into a hockey game one night. Not knowing either team, Darwin wondered if he could remain a neutral fan during the contest. He could not. Darwin said it took little time for him to more thoroughly enjoy one team's style of play, and found himself favoring that club despite not having a preference before the contest. For several years I was part of a broadcast team announcing LPGA tournaments on a variety of networks. My wife Kristi was -- and still is -- an LPGA player, and on occasion I would have to describe her shots. During one tournament in Nashville, I accurately told a nationwide audience: "Throughout her career, Kristi has struggled with uphill lag putts." My wife promptly left her first putt five feet short. I absolutely wanted my wife to make that putt, and yet at the same time was honest with my call. While my analysis did little to encourage matrimonial harmony, I felt I was honest with the audience. Rooting for players is only human. However, professional announcers must put aside that bias and give honest descriptions of events, and we strive on the PGA TOUR Network to make every broadcast bias-free. I do cheer for exciting stories on the PGA TOUR. In the second round of this year's Honda Classic, Mark Wilson assessed himself a two-shot penalty when his caddie inadvertently gave club advice to a competitor. For the rest of the week, I was excited to describe the story of Wilson overcoming the self-imposed penalty resulting from his own honesty. When he won the tournament in a Monday playoff, it turned into one of the great finishes of the year. Great storylines make for exciting tournaments, and there are plenty of them at this week's Canadian Open. Can Mike Weir win in Canada and secure a spot on the Presidents Cup team that will be played in his homeland later this fall? Can 2006 champion Jim Furyk successfully defend his title? I root for exciting tournaments every week on the PGA TOUR Network, but never for individual players. The human drama that unfolds each week affords ample opportunity to simply call the action, and let the fans -- much like Bernard Darwin -- decide for themselves. VAYA CON DIOS, SEVE  The rain had just started to come down, and my family and I had just found our main target at the Region's Charity Classic in Birmingham, Ala. back in May. The one and only Seve Ballesteros had just pulled up in a cart after playing in his first pro-am on the Champions Tour. Seve obliged and held the umbrella as I got the camera ready to snap a photo of the swashbuckling Spaniard with my wife and kids. Even at the age of 50, Ballesteros still has tons of charisma. I thanked him as he smiled and signed my boy's golf hats. The day before I was busy shooting segments for my television show (Tee Time with Doug Bell), which airs throughout my home state of Alabama, when I just happened to drive past Seve and Vicente Fernandez playing a practice round at the Ross Bridge golf club in Hoover, Ala. I asked the legend if we could tag along and he simply shrugged, which I took to mean "No problem." We fired up the camera and I proceeded to follow his every move. What a pleasure it was to follow the man who was making his Champions Tour debut. Little did I know, it would be his last competitive tournament, after his announcement earlier this week that a balky back would force an end to his incredible career. After following him for a few holes I managed to cozy up next to the five-time major champion, and he told me that he really didn't know what to expect in his Champions Tour debut. Ballesteros also said his back was bothering him, and at 50 years old it was no longer very easy to recover from jet lag. We reminisced about the PGA Championships he played at nearby Shoal Creek, and he admitted he has a fondness for the area. The weather apparently reminds him of his home country and he loves the golf course, which still stands as the top layout in our golf-crazed state. Weeks before, I had caught up with Ballesteros after a practice round at Augusta National prior to the start of the Masters. It was only the second tournament he had played in three years, the other being last year's Open Championship. He seemed genuinely pleased that I asked him for an interview for our pre-tournament show on the PGA TOUR Network, XM 146. He flashed that brilliant smile, and recalled great moments in his career at Augusta National, where he won twice and had numerous other opportunities. I was amazed at his recall ability from years gone by, as he recited his top-10 list of best shots he had produced at one of the places that made him famous. I must say, that was one of my favorite interviews I have ever done for the network. I find it incredibly ironic that he would play his last professional tourney just a few weeks later in my own backyard. He still had that silky-smooth putting stroke, and with a wedge in his hands, he was still magnificent. It was off the tee where he struggled mightily, and didn't swing with the same slashing style I remember from watching in years past. It was obvious that father time was sending a message. I realized that he was an old 50-year-old, having turned pro as a teenager and winning 59 times around the world --highlighted by those five majors -- not to mention all those entertaining moments in the Ryder Cup. I hate to see him go, but I'm glad I got to see him up close and personal for the last time. One of the all-time greats has hung up his spikes and tucked away his clubs. As I shook his hand and thanked him for his time in Birmingham, I noticed a tattoo on his left forearm. It was the same Seve logo that was on his shirt and golf bag. How many athletes do that? I'm sure Arnold Palmer doesn't have his signature umbrella anywhere on his body, and Jack Nicklaus probably doesn't have his Golden Bear logo on his person anywhere, but that's the sort of thing that set Seve apart. He is unique and has left an indelible mark on golf fans all over the world, especially for one big fan here in Birmingham, Ala.
DiMARCO IS DiMAN IN BIRMINGHAM -- AND BEYOND  I thoroughly enjoy speaking with Chris DiMarco, whether it's a casual conversation about our beloved Florida Gators, or something more formal for the PGA TOUR Network on XM Satellite Radio. Chris is one of those guys who simply enjoys talking and has plenty to say, and that's why his radio show on XM 146 called oPINionated with Chris DiMarco should be very successful. Each year in October, in my hometown of Birmingham, Ala., Chris plays in the David Toms Invitational, a charity event that raises major dollars for the John Croyle Big Oak Ranch. (You might be wondering why an LSU Tiger like Toms, and a die-hard Gator such as DiMarco, come to Alabama in the middle of college football season. It's a long story, but Toms inherited the event from Vijay Singh, David Frost and long-time PGA TOUR player Buddy Gardner, who got things started about 20 years ago. John Croyle -- who played on some great Alabama college football teams under Bear Bryant in the early 1970s -- has done wonderful work with troubled kids, and has tremendous relationships with numerous PGA TOUR members.) DiMarco is a great pro-am partner. The source of nonstop chatter, he helps read putts for his playing partners, and will debate anyone about the latest trials and tribulations associated with SEC football. Without fail, every October the Gators will have already played some important games against the likes of LSU and Tennessee -- not to mention Alabama and Auburn -- and usually he has bragging rights when it comes to college football. I'm hoping when DiMarco makes his way back to Birmingham this fall, he'll also have a new collection of stories about the Presidents Cup. The eventual hero of the competition two years ago, he is not actually on the squad as of right now, and an injury to his shoulder -- which he doesn't talk much about -- is not helping his chances. DiMarco told me in Memphis his shoulder was feeling much better after a couple of cortisone shots, but admitted at the AT&T National last week that things are still not 100 percent. It's not so much the pain, he explained, but the feeling that something is going to pop. With two major championships and a World Golf Championships event still remaining on his schedule, DiMarco has plenty of opportunities to move into the top 10 in Presidents Cup points. If he doesn't, it might be difficult for Jack Nicklaus to use one of his two captain's picks on the three-time winner, whose best finish so far this year has been a T12 at THE PLAYERS Championship. I'm hoping DiMarco has much more to talk about this October than "just" college football. I would love to hear him tell stories about a victory at Royal Montreal in the Presidents Cup. Even better, I would love to be one of the guys who gets selected to play in his group in Birmingham, and hear those stories in person.  Surprises at the John Deere Classic Three of the four "Door Knockers" I identified are still alive (Jason Gore is seven behind the leader, Heath Slocum is nine back, and Lucas Glover made the cut on the number), but all have shown in the past they've got the right stuff to keep this interesting. If you took this group, stick with 'em. The "Grinders" have done just that. Four of the five names I dropped on Wednesday are very much in this tourney, led by multiple winner Kenny Perry, who is just three shots back. Chris Riley is nine down, and both Bernhard Langer and Jay Williamson just made the cut, but you'll be amazed by the number of guys can make a run if they can just get the weekend. Don't give up on the "Grinders" just yet. Amazingly, only one "Kid" is still alive. Brant Snedecker is seven shots back, but a Big Saturday (Sabado Gigante as we call it on the PGA TOUR Network) might keep him in the hunt. Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas missed the cut by just a single stroke, Jeff Quinney was three strokes outside the cut line, and Bubba Watson earned a DQ for using a nonconforming club. So what to do for Saturday to keep things interesting? Just create a new group. Sure, golf is an individual game, but I'm very curious so find out which group -- much like the cream from the bovines, who outnumber the people in this part of the country -- rises to the top from this bunch that woke up Saturday in the Top 20. NON-WINNERS - These are the guys who might have slept a little restlessly Friday night. If they're still in the hunt heading into Sunday, they're likely to really toss and turn. Ten of the 22 players within six shots of the lead have never won on the PGA TOUR. That's actually the good news, because the misery of pressure probably loves company. I won't list them all, but you know who they are. Some have been close before, even recently (leader Nathan Green and Tim Clark among them), but veterans like Bob May and Brian Gay will have to go way back in the memory banks to remember how to manage the "leader" concept. As for the rest of this bunch? Well, like Jason Dufner told me, "We'll see how I react." They can feel a little better in the knowledge that six of the last eight champions at the John Deere Classic were first-time winners. WINNERS - No one would be surprised if Carl Pettersson or Kenny Perry won this tournament, and it would only be a short stretch to imagine Troy Matteson, D.J. Trahan or Tim Petrovic raising another trophy, as they've all done in the last couple of years. WINNERS, PART DEUX - This will be the fun bunch to watch. Neal Lancaster, Duffy Waldorf, Kevin Sutherland, Billy Mayfair, Paul Stankowski and Jonathan Byrd have all won before. They know how to cash checks, but how often have they sniffed the elite air of a top-5 finish, or even that "final group on Sunday" pressure lately? Another name on this list to watch very closely is J.P. Hayes. The winner of the John Deere Classic in 2002, Hayes just happened to have the same score through two rounds (7-under par) last year, although he was only three stokes off the lead instead of five shots back through two rounds. He shot 66 - 65 on the weekend in 2006 -- certainly not an impossibility given the way it's raining birdies this week -- and ended up in second, just one shot behind eventual champion John Senden. While Thursday was full of hope, and Friday was somewhat of a reality check, Saturday is Moving Day. Buckle up and hang on for the ride.  NOT YOUR FATHER'S OLDSMOBILE I had no idea what a Mercedes Maybach was until I saw one in the players parking lot at Congressional last week. Maybe I should have known, since the Mercedes plant in Vance, Ala. is just down the highway from my home in Birmingham. But nevertheless, there it was glistening in the glorious sunshine, as John Daly was busy rummaging through his trunk. Daly, who found out Monday night he had been given a chance to play in Tiger Woods' event when John Cook withdrew with a shoulder injury, drove all night in his custom-made automobile, arriving in the Nation's Capitol only hours before. Daly, who had played the course during the 1997 U.S. Open, seemed unfazed by the fact that he would not be able to play a practice round prior to the start of competition. He simply needed a ride to the range, which we happily provided. Daly, who eventually missed the cut at the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods, seems more upbeat now than he did when I followed him in the opening round of the AT&T Classic in suburban Atlanta, Ga. back in May. At the time, he seemed totally uninterested in playing and never cracked a smile, rarely interacting with his many fans even when they cheered his every move But that's not the case now. Daly, who finished T16 at the Buick Open, seems to be enjoying himself again. He still sprays shots all over the lot and pulls out the big stick when others wouldn't dare, but that's one of the reasons he remains one of the most popular players in the world. Daly drove to the John Deere Classic in the custom Maybach, and after catching a glimpse of the interior of his $400,000 ride and listening to the sound system blaring in the Congressional parking lot, I can understand why he would rather drive than fly. His last victory on the PGA TOUR came in 2004 at the Buick Invitational just outside San Diego, but Daly seems to be playing with renewed enthusiasm.. Earlier in the year, I thought perhaps Daly was finished, but after watching and listening to him last week, I sense he's getting closer. After this week's stop in the John Deere Classic, Daly will tee it up at Carnoustie in the Open Championship, where he will again attract thousands of fans overseas. The only problem for John next week is getting there. The Maybach will be in the garage, and I supposed he'll have to fly. Of course, with John Daly, you just never know.  JOHN DEERE CLASSIC CANDIDATES In the spirit of Tiger's tournament last week at Congressional, welcome to the John Deere Classic hosted by Zach Johnson. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native (which is about 80 miles north and west as the crow flies from TPC Deere Run, and crows do fly in corn country) has been on the Board of Directors here for several years, even before becoming famous and appearing on David Letterman's late-night show with his win at the Masters in April. However, on the heels of the inaugural AT&T Classic last week, and with the Open Championship next week at Carnoustie, Zach's the only member of the Top 20 in the FedExCup points race in the field this week. But fear not, because in the spirit of the Travelers Championship and Buick Open -- both of which provided riveting drama and provided two of the best finishes we've had in months on the PGA TOUR, despite a supposed lack of star power -- here's a prediction: This one will be just as exciting at the end as both the Hartford and Flint tournaments we recently enjoyed. So, who might we pull for this week? Tough not to root for Zach, since he's the kind of guy you hope your daughter meets some day. But if you want a few more horses in the race, how about picking from among these "field" entries and rooting one of them on? THE KIDS -- Six of the last eight John Deere Classic champions were first-time winners. What better place for Anthony Kim, Jeff Quinney or Brant Snedecker, who've never even played here before, to break through? Or how about either Bubba Watson -- who finished 17th last year and eats up TPC courses -- or Camilo Villegas -- who's had five of his eight rounds here at TPC Deere Run in the 60s -- busting out for their first win? THE DOOR-KNOCKERS -- Pat Perez has played great of late, Heath Slocum nearly won here last year, Lucas Glover is an explosion waiting to happen, and Jason Gore was one Brian Bateman putt away from a playoff two weeks ago at the Buick Open. The guys in this fictional foursome are too good not to win, perhaps very soon. THE GRINDERS -- Kenny Perry's game is on a huge upswing, and he has four top-10 finishes in his career here at TPC Deere Run. In his climb back from the Ryder Cup debacle of 2004, Chris Riley has already won on the Nationwide Tour this year, finished inside the Top 20 last week in Tiger's tourney, and was in the top five at the John Deere Classic three times in four years from 2000 through 2003. Don't forget about Bernhard Langer, who's won more times than most of this field combined, yet can still compete anytime (remember Colonial?) he tees it up. Is journeyman Jay Williamson out of miracles yet, after his near win at the Travelers Championship and smooth ride at the Buick Open? Based on his recent improved play, we can't even count out John Daly here even, although he's missed the cut all five times he's played in this event. There are three groups right there for you to choose from. Pick a gang you think might have a winner locked inside, and get your buddies to do the same. We'll all follow them through the weekend, and there might be one from groups A, B and C chasing down the final three holes on Sunday! What a way to get in the mood for more Carnage at Carnoustie!  (NOT) LOST IN TRANSLATION Last week was a wonderful time in the Nation's Capitol, and I got a chance to visit the famed Congressional Country Club for the first time. Despite some sultry temperatures -- which made my native Alabama seem like a tropical paradise -- I had the opportunity for the better part of four days to follow the biggest name in Asian golf, Kyoung-Ju Choi, better known as K.J. to those of us who have gotten to know him on the PGA TOUR. With his victory at the inaugural AT&T National Hosted by Tiger Woods, K.J. has six PGA TOUR victories, which is one more than all other Asian golfers combined. (Shigeki Marayuma has three, Isao Aoki and T.C. Chen have one apiece.) The man they call "Tank" -- as a child in South Korea he started out as a power-lifting prospect -- has developed one of the most consistent games on TOUR. As evidenced by his wins at the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley (which included a final-round 65) and last Sunday's solid 68 at the rugged Congressional, this 37-year-old champion has big-time game that shines under the brightest of lights. I asked Choi after his opening-round 66 about the possibility of winning Jack Nicklaus' tourney and Tiger's event in the same year. As usual, he smiled and gave a hearty laugh before answering in his steadily improving (but still slightly broken) English. It's funny, as I interviewed him on Friday and then again on Saturday, I began to understand him better and better. He not only works diligently on his golf game, but also his speaking game. With the help of his interpreter and manager, Michael Yim, he is working hard at communicating with American reporters. Some say the communication gap is what keeps him from getting the credit he deserves on the PGA TOUR, but I'm not sure that bothers him in the least. Our Nation's Capitol has one of the largest Korean populations in the country, and that was evident throughout the week at Congressional. As I walked inside the ropes for the PGA TOUR Network on XM Satellite Radio, thousands of Korean golf fans were watching their countryman's every move. I was also very intrigued by the unusually large grip on Choi's putter. It was a round piece of rubber he placed on the grip, and I asked him about it during the early rounds. He and Michael Yim both chuckled and flashed huge smiles, as if I was the funniest man they had ever encountered. (In reality, they just laugh when they both understand the question.) K.J. explained that it kept his hands and wrists locked in position, and freed up his arms for a smoother stroke. He decided to try it as a practice aid at his home at The Woodlands in Houston, and it felt so good he decided to try it at Tiger's inaugural event. Boy, did it work. After 14 holes on Saturday, Choi was struggling at three-over par for the day, four under for the event, and five shots behind leader Stuart Appleby. He promptly birdied Nos. 15,16, and 17 to get back to even par on the round, and bringing him within two shots of the leader. I talked with Michael Yim on Sunday at the range, as Choi went through pre-round exercises on the range. He explained that K.J. felt rushed on Saturday, so it was his intention to give himself more time on Sunday, starting with an early-morning breakfast at a local Korean restaurant. (They had eaten every night at this same place in Virginia, and the owner told them to come by for breakfast. They were delighted to find out they could fill up on fried rice and spicy soup before the final round.) Michael told me K.J. was satisfied and full before heading to Congressional, and just like he had in the previous round, Choi made a big move late in the back nine. He carded three birdies against just one bogey in a six-hole stretch, punctuated by his tournament-clinching birdie chip in from the right greenside bunker on No. 17. I was standing just outside the scorer's trailer when Choi exited the 18th green to sign his card. Waiting there was tourney host Tiger Woods, who grabbed his hand and shoulder and offered heart-felt congratulations. K.J. responded like he did when I asked him about the putting grip, with a hearty laugh and broad smile. No words were needed, because you could see the joy in both his eyes and his smile. Shortly after he signed his scorecard and before he gave the PGA TOUR Network the first post-round interview, he walked over to hug and kiss his wife, Hyunjung Kim. It was a nice moment, and Michael Yim looked at me and said, "Must go to number one." His children Hohjun "David" (10), Amanda (5) and Daniel (4) were also tugging at their daddy's pants. At that moment, no words were needed. I watched K.J. embrace Jack Nicklaus after he won the Memorial Tournament and explain what it meant to win the Golden Bear's tourney. After all, he learned the game -- after his powerlifting days -- by watching Nicklaus videotapes and reading his instruction books. I've heard plenty of reporters talk about Choi's win since, and argue that his inability to perfect the English language is keeping him from being totally accepted in our country. I had a chance to walk the fairways of Congressional and follow K.J. and Tiger, among others, and the faces I saw lining the ropes were a cross section of the world we live in today. There were young and old fans, mothers carrying babies, with nationalities represented from all across the globe. No words were necessary. We were all there to watch the best players in the game on one of the best courses in the world. We all cheered when these players from across the globe hit great shots. That's why we came to Congressional. K.J. Choi's game is among the best in the world, and it was a pleasure to watch him perform both on and off the course. He does his talking with his golf game, but as his list of wins has grown, so has his vocabulary. I eventually asked him on Sunday how to say "champion" in Korean. He smiled, laughed and simply stated: "Champion."  THE HEART OF AMERICA Welcome to Mid America. Welcome to Small Town USA. Welcome to the John Deere Classic. The PGA TOUR regularly visits large cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, but this week's tournament is being held in Silvis, Ill. It's a suburb of the "Quad Cities" of Moline, Rock Island, Bettendorf and Davenport. Moline and Rock Island are in Illinois, Bettendorf and Davenport are in Iowa, and there are dozens of smaller farm communities nearby. The total metro population is about 350,000, approximately the size of Wilmington, N.C. or Trenton, N.J. In these Midwestern towns people still sit on their porch at night listening to Cubs and Cardinals games on the radio, and seemingly every house flies an American flag. The residents not only know the names of their neighbors, but their children's names and birthdays as well. However, while the towns are relatively small, the golf is big time. TPC Deere Run is one of the better courses the PGA TOUR visits the entire season. D.A. Weibring took a piece of property adjacent to the Rock River and carved a spectacular golf course into the rolling, wooded hills. The water, trees and elevation changes combine to form a wonderful layout. I arrived in Moline late Tuesday afternoon, and took an evening walk around the course just as dusk slipped into darkness. An afternoon thunderstorm had cooled temperatures into the upper 60s, and painted the sky in an exotic shade of pink. The course was deserted as I strolled down the middle of the fairways, taking note of the natural bunkering and swales in the green complexes. It is a very, very good golf course. By the time I reached the 18th hole the waning light had faded into darkness, but a host of fire flies showed me the way while a chorus of frogs announced my arrival at the green. Before becoming President of the United States, Ronald Reagan spent his youth in the area and once had a summer job as a lifeguard on the Rock River. He said it was the happiest time of his life. So, while much of the golf world has already started to gather at Carnoustie for next week's Open Championship, I'm happy to be in Silvis, Ill. this week. You can't get more All American than a visit to the Quad Cities and the John Deere Classic. I think I'll have a slice of apple pie tonight.  DADDY MIGHT GET EVEN BETTER
S.A.W. (my nickname for Sam Alexis Woods) entered our world the Monday after her father finished second at the U.S. Open. It was kind of an odd championship for the world No. 1. On Saturday, he hit 17-of-18 greens, but inconsistency with the putter turned his brilliant ball-striking round into "just" a solid 69, putting Tiger in the final-round pairing with Aaron Baddeley. I was lucky enough to follow Tiger every step of the way on Sunday at Oakmont Country Club. Like many, I figured it was his championship to win on Father's Day as a fitting salute to "Pops," as Tiger always referred to his late father, Earl. Being the nickname guy that I am, I have always called Earl "Obi Won," a nod to the mentor from the Star Wars movie franchise. However, that Sunday was not Tiger's day. Mistakes on the par-4 third hole, a missed short birdie putt on No. 13, and not finding his way to a birdie on the short par-4 17th left some of us wondering what had happened. I still feel like Tiger did not lose the U.S. Open that Sunday. The problem was that he didn't win the championship on Saturday, when he normally would have shot 65 in a round in which he found all but one green in regulation. By the way, Angel Cabrerra won -- and deserved to win -- the U.S. Open at Oakmont. This week at the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods, we learned that TW's bride was hospitalized with complications to her pregnancy during the U.S. Open. Since the complications were not life-threatening, Tiger played on just outside Pittsburgh, but Elin's condition had to be weighing on his mind. Many wondered how falling in love, and eventually marriage, would affect Tiger's game. I would say he's handled it pretty well. Many wondered how losing his father would affect Tiger's game. Well, after a missed cut at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot last year, I think winning seven in a row -- including two major championships -- answered that question. Many now wonder how becoming a father will affect Tiger's game. I am no Jimmy The Greek or Nostradamus, but I think he will handle the new challenge of being a dad splendidly, and he might even get better on the links. For instance, let's look at these numbers relating to winning majors:
There is an exception to this unique stat: Seve Ballesteros won all five of his majors prior to having children. Time will tell, but I think this quote from Tiger's announcement of his new event, just outside the nation's capital at the famed Congressional Country Club, is a great indication of how he was thinking leading up to the birth of his first offspring: "We wanted to make this a family atmosphere, something that everyone in their family could come out and participate. We wanted to do this for however many children you have, you can bring them. Basically it's one big picnic." I have already witnessed a ton of youngsters with their moms and dads here at Congressioinal, enjoying a hot dog and beverage while watching the best players in the world during our country's birthday week. Sounds like a heckuva picnic we've got going on TOUR! Best of luck on being parents to Tiger and Elin. I would wish him luck on the links, but I think he has that covered. |
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