Capelle On Golf

Just how good is Geoff Ogilvy? After dismantling Dove Mountain and poor Paul Casey with a 4&3 win in the finals on the strength of eleven under golf for 33 holes, you’ve got to wonder.

He’s scary cool, with the demeanor of a Buddhist monk. According to Johnny Miller he’s now putting as well as Tiger Woods did in his magical season in 2000. It’s hard to say, but he never misses inside ten feet. And his only weakness is a tendency to spray the ball off the tee, but that certainly hasn’t slowed down another golfer with driver issues.

Ogilvy is the first multiple winner on tour this year, so he’s building towards what could be a super season. He started the week as the eighth ranked golfer in the world, but has vaulted into the #4 slot, leapfrogging over Richard Karlsson, Henrik Stenson, Vijay Singh, and Padraig Harrington. If he wins again before Phil Mickelson does, he could take over the third spot.

His record in the WCG is better than Tiger’s. You read correctly. Ogilvy is 17-2 (.895) with two wins and a second in four tries. Tiger is 31-6 (.838) with three wins and a second in nine tries.

Ogilvy may not be the most consistent player week to week, but consistency is overrated. In his five starts this year he’s gone W – 32t – 17t – 30t – W. And Phil Mickelson, last week’s winner, missed the cut the week before. To win a player needs the ability to get red hot with the putter, coolness in the clutch, and a game that’s suited to certain type of courses. That’s Geoff.

Ogilvy hits towering iron shots, so while his game may not be made for windy days at the British Open (he missed the cut in the gale at Birkdale last year), it is perfect for Augusta and most American style courses.

Ogilvy uses one swing – you won’t see him playing three quarter shots and stingers. While that may seem like a negative, keeping one swing is low maintenance, and when it’s in the groove and the winds are light, it can be deadly.

His affinity for match play, where something is riding on every hole, is good training for head to head duels on the back nine on Sunday at the majors. And he’s already got the major’s monkey off his back, so that’s another big plus.

The golfing media is rightfully going bananas over Rory McIlroy, Anthony Kim and assorted other young phenoms. But it may discover that Tiger’s biggest challenge may come from a 31 year old Australian who looks to be entering that phase of his career when golf’s greatest players are typically at their very best.

So when the short lists are composed for contenders at Augusta, look for Ogilvy to be on them. With his high ball and deadly putting, his game and the course look like a marriage made in golf heaven. And his coolness under fire may, on a certain Sunday afternoon, meet or exceed golf’s coolest cat.