Capelle On Golf

Over the last two weeks nearly every player in the top 50 (excluding Tiger Woods) had a chance to boost their World Golf Ranking in the two point rich events. And, as expected, there were some significant moves in the Top 10. At the WGC – Bridgestone Vijay Singh earned74 points for winning to vault from the 15th spot into the top 5.

Padraig Harrington added 100 points to his total with his come from behind win at the PGA, increasing his stranglehold on third place. He also closed the gap on #2 Phil Mickelson, who’s lead has been cut from 3.16 points to 2.01 over the last two weeks.

Sergio Garcia’s tie for second at the PGA elevated him from sixth to fourth in rankings. Though he only leads Singh by .50 points, you get the feeling that he’s getting stronger while Singh is mostly getting older.

Before the WGC, Adam Scott was the fourth ranked player in the world and in perfect position to launch and assault on third place. But he finished 56t in the no cut field of 80 at the WGC, then missed the cut at the PGA to tumble out of the Top 10.

After winning the WGC – Accenture Match Play in 2007, Henrik Stenson was the fifth ranked player, which at the time did not accurately reflect his game. He ended the season at #16. This season Stenson has been quietly putting together a remarkable year that’s only lacking a trip or two to the winner’s circle. In sixteen starts worldwide, he’s been in the top six on eight occasions. He’s also done well in the last two majors, finishing 3t and 4t at the Open and PGA respectively.

The jury is still out on Phil Mickelson, 38, possibly because the golf world hates to think that he’s lost his majors winning magic. But it’s happened before to better players like Arnold Palmer (34) and Tom Watson (33), who’s winning ways ended in their mid 30s. If so, his second place ranking could be in jeopardy by early 2009.

As for the rest of the top 10, most feel like occupy those positions by default. When you read their names and think about their seasons in the majors, it’s hard to get to imagine them being much of a threat to Woods when he returns.

8/10-7/27 – WGR Ave.—Majors in 2008
1—1–18.36 Tiger Woods (2—W, DNP, DNP)
2—2–9.87 Phil Mickelson (5t, 18t, 19t, 7t)
3—3–7.86 Padraig Harrington (5t, MC, W, W)
4—6–6.13 Sergio Garcia (MC, 18t, 51t, 2t)
5—15–5.63 Vijay Singh (14t, 65t, MC, MC)
6—10–5.31 Henrik Stenson (17t, MC, 3t, 4t)
7—5–5.24 Ernie Els (MC, 14t, 7t, 31t)
8—7—5.13 Stewart Cink (3t, 14t, MC, MC)
9—8—5.12 Geoff Ogilvy (39t, 9t, MC, 31t)
10—9—5.07 Steve Stricker (MC, 29t, 7t, 39t)
11—4—5.01 Adam Scott (25t, 26t, 16t, MC)