Tiger, Here’s the Top Ten List!

“Hooks and Slices” will bring you our view on whats happening in the golf world.

It looks like Mr. Woods is getting closer and closer to being back out on tour. He’s got a future LPGA player and a future PGA player at home that he can train to take over the “family business.” The business has changed a little since you been gone Tiger. While you were away changing diapers the boys on the tour were busy trying to grab a title or two before you came back. Here is how the World Rankings look as you get ready to reclaim your share of the golf market.

Note to Tiger Woods: While you were out…

1. Tiger Woods: Must have been some lead, no tournaments since June and still in first place.
2. Sergio Garcia: Sergio may have found his putter. He won at the Players, seconds at the PGA, Barclays and Tour Championship. On the Euro Tour he has a win and two top tens. He still looks hot, but we know what happens when the two of you play together; he melts and you win.
3. Padraig Harrington: Padraig may have been the most impressive player in your absence. He won back to back Majors; The PGA and the Open. That gave him three of the last six majors. He finished strong last year and has a tie for fifth on the Euro Tour this year. He may be your biggest challenger this year.
4. Vijay Singh: Vijay is coming back from knee surgery and his stroke average is a shot and a half over last year’s average. I’m sure that doesn’t concern him, because he is confident he’ll play better now that he is healthy. He is only the defending FedEx Cup Champion. To say he finished last year strong is an understatement. He won the Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship and had clinched the Cup before the Tour Championship.
5. Phil Mickelson: Phil may be in trouble. He is having trouble finding his swing and fairways. He has been changing equipment, his swing and has not found the right combination yet. In 2008 his best finishes in his last nine official outings were ties for third and fourth. This season his best finish is a tie for 42^nd at the Buick and he missed the cut at the FBR, his old stomping grounds. Phil and Butch need to find it soon.
6. Henrik Stenson: One of two Swedes in the top ten, yes, that’s correct, two Swedes in the top ten. Stenson has a second and third in five Euro Tour events.
7. Robert Karlsson: One of two Swedes in the top ten, yes, that’s correct, two Swedes in the top ten. Karlsson is the 2008 European Tour Order of Merit winner.
8. Geoff Ogilvy: Probably the quietest major champion in recent memory. All he does in sneak in a win here and there. Won the Mercedes to open the season.
9. Camilo Villegas: He’s a hot player, not only on the course, but with the media and fans. He stepped up in 2008 and won the BMW and the Tour Championship. His last five events in 2008 went, T3,1,1,T3,T5. He has made two of three cuts this year with a tie for third at the Mercedes. He may challenge you for the biggest following by photographers.
10. Kenny Perry: Yes, Kenny Perry. Perry set some goals last year and he was even shocked with his results. He won three official events and one unofficial event. He has picked up where he left off by winning the FBR this year and making cuts in all four of his tournaments. That’s not bad for a guy that will turn 49 this year.

Other Players of Note:

Anthony Kim: Kim is currently eleventh in the world. He has been channeling Gary Player as an ambassador of golf. Kim is playing all over the world and is a member of both the PGA and the European PGA tours. In addition to the U.S. he has played in Malaysia, Korea, China and Australia. He won at the Wachovia and the AT&T in 2008, and became a hero of the Ryder Cup when he crushed Sergio in singles. You know him, he’s the kid that thought you “won ten majors.”

Rory McIlroy: McIlroy is the darling of the Euro Tour and has just won at Dubai. He is nineteen and is the youngest player in the top twenty. He is currently number sixteen. He has been compared to Tiger Woods by your close friend, Mark O’Meara.