Capelle On Golf

Twelve weeks have passed since Tiger Woods hung up his spikes for the year. Upon the news of his forced sabbatical the golf world wondered who would step up and advantage of his absence. Would the big names loosen up and rediscover the magic? Would there be some surprising disappointments? And would some budding young superstars begin to realize their potential? The answers were yes, yes, and yes.

Prior to Woods’ departure Padraig Harrington had to be considered a big name based on his win at the 2007 British Open and his fine record from the Open through this year’s US Open. But then his stock skyrocketed with his victories at this year’s Open and PGA. On the back nine of these events he showed the kind of closing skills that he’ll need if he’s going to go toe-to-toe with Tiger in the majors.

Putting challenged Vijay Singh got hot on the greens and picked up three quick wins, at least two coming in events that Woods would have played in. With his awesome long game and his god awful belly putter, he could, for the first time in three or four years, be a force to be reckoned with at next year’s majors.

Phil Mickelson continues to make us wonder how he could be ranked number two as he has not contended in a major since the US Open in 2006. He’s failed to step up in Tiger’s absence, indicating that his problems are much deeper than the cloud he and everyone must deal with when Woods is in the field. Fellow Butch Harmon pupil Ernie Els also remains in a funk and is sliding down the rankings.

I guess that Sergio Garcia is still a member of the rising young stars category at age 28, though he’s been a contender in the majors since 1999. Based on his win at THE PLAYERS and his super strong play since the US Open, which includes three seconds, he belongs in the breakout category. Anthony Kim, 23, is also experiencing a breakout season with two wins and a third last week. Since Tiger departed, his WGR has shot up from 20th to 11th.

Camilo Villegas, 26, finished 4t at the PGA and recorded his first PGA Tour win last week with a strong three birdie and no bogey finish over the last 12 holes. In the last three months he’s jumped from #51 to #18 in the WGR. And finally, Henrik Stenson played extremely well in the Tigerless majors and is not #6 in the WGR.

With Tiger gone, the plot has indeed thickened. If Harrington, Singh, Garcia, Kim, Villegas, and Stenson can build on their recent confidence boosting play, Tiger might actually face some tough competition for some big name players when he returns to action next year.

World Golf Rankings – June 15 to September 7 (record since the US Open - bold = majors)
Now-6/15
1 – 1 Tiger Woods
2 – 2 Phil Mickelson (38t, 19t, 4t, 7t, 19t, 73t, 17t)
3 – 9 Vijay Singh (5, MC, W, MC, MC, W, W, 44t)
4 – 13 Padraig Harrington (17t, W, 20t, W, MC, MC, 55t)
5 – 6 Sergio Garcia (2, 51t, 36t, 2t, 2t, 5t, 20t)
6 – 16 Henrik Stenson (6t, 33t, 3t, 16t, 4t, 3)
7 – 5 Ernie Els (9t, 7t, 27t, 31t, MC, 3t, 17t)
8 – 8 Steve Stricker (28t, 7t, 43t, 39t, 19t, 13t, 10t)
9 – 10 Jim Furyk (36t, 3t, 5t, 14t, 27t, 29t, 12t, 7t, 3t)
10 – 12 Stewart Cink (W, MC, 43t, MC, 38t, 33t, 60t)
11 – 20 Anthony Kim (W, 7t, 8t, 55t, 12t, 27t, 3t)
12 – 17 Lee Westwood
13 – 4 Geoff Ogilvy
14 – 7 Justin Rose
15 – 3 Adam Scott
16 – 11 K.J. Choi
17 – 29 Kenny Perry
18 – 51 Camilo Villegas (36t, 39t, 53t, 4t, MC, 3t, W)
19 – 19 Miguel Angel Jimenez
20 – 15 Trevor Immelman
Leaving the Top 20
21 – 14 Rory Sabbatini
24 – 18 Luke Donald