Monday, January 28, 2008

Tiger Tears Torrey

Maybe the city of San Diego should rename the course Tiger Pines. In another shocker, Woods won the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines by eight shots Sunday, his fourth straight in that tournament and his third in a row on the PGA Tour going back to last year. It was Tiger’s 62nd career victory, which ties him for fourth place all time with Arnold Palmer. Next on the list is Ben Hogan with 64. Although he hit only about 50 percent of his fairways, Tiger led the field in putting and was second in greens in regulation. With the U.S. Open returning to Torrey Pines this summer, the USGA might as well go ahead and start engraving the trophy. Sure, Rees Jones says it will be a longer, tougher course with faster greens. So what? Think that will impede Tiger, who, by the way, has an excellent shot at winning the Grand Slam this year? He already is the odds on favorite for the Masters, we know what he can do at Torrey Pines, and the last time the British Open was played at Royal Birkdale, he finished T-2, one shot out of a playoff, and he will be the defending PGA champion.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Rafe Botts.