MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / July 26, 2000

You know the guy is good when even the fabled British weather and the home of golf cave in to Tiger Woods.

Right now, Woods’ biggest challenger may be the history of the game. Andso far, the record books have fallen like so many of his competitors on the PGA Tour.

A 19-under-par 269 this weekend at the British Open, the lowest under par for a major championship. That followed a 12-under par at the U.S.Open in June, the lowest under par for that major. And that followed arecord 15-under par at the Masters in 1997. The 19-under was also arecord for St. Andrew’s, golf’s most hallowed ground. With the British Open win, Woods joined Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen as the only players to win the career Grand Slam.

That’s called good company. At 24, he is the youngest to do it. And to thinkthat most golfers don’t reach their prime until they reach 30.

Next up are two records that many thought would be unapproachable – Nicklaus’ 18 majors and Sarazen’s 89 victories. Woods already has fourmajors and 21 Tour victories, 25 worldwide.

The weather at St. Andrew’s this week was uncharacteristically mild. Butyou wonder if that would have made a difference with Woods. He finishedwith four rounds in the 60s, becoming only the third Open champion to do so.

Woods has had his challengers. David Duval, Davis Love III, Phil Mickelson,Sergio Garcia and Els have all made runs at him. Woods has answered timeand time again. Poor Els has finished second behind him six times in hiscareer, including the last two majors.

The eight-stroke victory over Ernie Els and Thomas Bjorn was the largest for a British Open in 87 years. A month ago, his 15-stroke victory at theU.S. Open was the record for any major. And in 1997, he won the Mastersby 12.

So what do the other golfers on the Tour do to stay with Woods? They keep playing their game. Golf is one where you play against yourself and thecourse. Woods could suffer an injury. Or he could get married, raise afamily and lose some of the desire he has for the game.

It has happened before to many an athlete. But it’s doubtful in the case ofWoods, who hits the ball as far as anybody who has played the game but also has as much golf knowledge as anybody. He is consistently trying toget better, always setting higher standards for himself.

As of now, Woods is the standard for the game. His main competition maybe with himself and the ghosts of the game. And right now, Woods isbeginning to conquer those ghosts.

Ironically, the LPGA may have its own version of Tiger Woods right now in Karrie Webb, who won the U.S. Women’s Open soon after Woods waswrapping up the British.

Like Woods, it was Webb’s third victory in the last four majors. It alsogave her the points she needs to qualify for the Hall of Fame at the ripe old age of 25. She will have to wait five more years in order to enter theHall.

Instead of the Woods-Garcia made-for-TV matchup next month, how about a Woods-Webb showdown?

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