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It's not about one player, and that's a good thing

Who thought this was possible two years ago, when Woods was still making majors look easy?

Shaun Powell

June 16, 2004

He has millions of dollars, legions of worshippers, eight major titles, the prettiest blonde on the course and a trash-talking puppet in his golf bag. Good for him. But good for golf, Tiger Woods finally has something else: company.

Once upon a time, life was lonely at the top. The distance between Woods and the world's next-best player was about as wide as John Daly after dessert. Among the money leaders, Tiger was ranked first, followed by his caddie. It sure was interesting for a while, watching him rule the sport and swoosh through the major tournaments with a clenched fist. Mesmerizing stuff. And yet, the man who did the sport a big favor by staying a mile ahead of everyone else has done golf another by taking a few steps back.

Whether this is due to gaining a fiancée or losing swing coach Butch Harmon or both, who knows and who cares? What's important is for the first time this decade, the majors are finally able to create good, stirring theater. The finish line seems fuzzy for once. Woods is no longer automatic, and as long as he isn't spending this Sunday afternoon in church, the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills will be better off for it.

"Golf is getting exactly what everyone wanted," said Tour veteran Nick Price, "a crowd near the top."

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Who thought this was possible two years ago, when Woods was still making majors look easy? He slogged through the swamp at Bethpage, became the only player in the field to shoot under par and grabbed the 2002 U.S. Open over Phil Mickelson, who couldn't make a Sunday charge. You wondered if people were awed by Tiger and bored with the result. He won seven of 11 majors.

Now, seven have escaped him, and that's the equivalent of a lengthy slump only if you compare Tiger now to Tiger then.

"It's been a long time considering it seemed like I was winning every other one," Woods said yesterday, once again dismissing any notion of a drop in his game. "I know I haven't played to my absolute peak week in and out, but who does?"

Thankfully, a few are coming close. Ernie Els is the unofficial No. 1 player right now, no matter what the rankings say, unless you include last season. Then it's Vijay Singh. Mickelson is no longer haunted by the title of Best Player Without A Major and it shows. With regard to the rankings, some might say Davis Love III is IV. And the flavor of the moment right now is a hot Spaniard, Sergio Garcia.

"This is what we were looking for," Price said. "This is what makes it so exciting. You know, a few years ago everyone was talking Tiger, Tiger, Tiger. And you could see how it was eating away at Ernie, Vijay and Sergio. They couldn't see any light. But now the fear factor is no longer an issue with them. They all know they can win a major if they're on top of their game."

The absence of Tiger at the trophy celebration hasn't damaged the quality of golf at the majors. Imagine that. Yes, Jim Furyk's win at last year's U.S. Open was as grotesque as his swing, but that's about it. The others held high drama. There was a four-way playoff at the 2002 British Open. One month later, Rich Beem held off a frantic rally by Woods at the PGA. At the Masters the following year, Mike Weir won a playoff and reduced Len Mattiace to tears. The finish at the 2003 British Open was in question until the last few holes, and Shaun Micheel didn't secure the PGA in '03 until his magnificent approach shot on the 72nd landed a foot from the cup.

And you could've slipped the Manhattan phone book under the feet of Mickelson after his winning putt at this year's Masters.

That's six out of seven cardiac finishes largely done without the cooperation of the world's greatest player, ample evidence that golf can survive when Tiger doesn't crush everyone.

Of course, this window won't stay open too much longer. His competitors better recognize that and get it while they can. As soon as Tiger figures out his new swing, or places a desperate call to Harmon - whichever comes first - the force may be with us again.

"When he gets his game back, he's going to win," Price said. "There's no doubt. What's going to be interesting is whether he has that dominance again. To be honest, I don't think so. The other guys are more mature and in the prime of their careers. It should be an interesting time."

It should be this weekend, where the Shinnecock forecast calls for sunshine and suspense at the U.S. Wide Open.

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It's not about one player, and that's a good thing

Who thought this was possible two years ago, when Woods was still making majors look easy?

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