The FedEx Cup or whatever the hell they call it.

Ms. Skeelo have had a very busy three weeks since we got back from the UK, mostly because we are scrambling to get things done before we head to New Hampshire for a week and a half tomorrow.

I thought it was great watching Tiger get beat by Y.E. Yang at the PGA 2 weeks ago. Eventually Tiger was going to lose a major that he was leading going into the last round and don't think it's a fluke that it was a relative no-name who took it from him. Phil, Ernie, etc. have proven time and again that they are terrified of the guy and will likely never catch him from behind. I still hold hope that Paddy Harrington can give Tiger a run but the pathetic 8's he has had at Firestone and Hazeltine give me pause.

You had to figure it would be a long shot who would play with a loose "Why not me?" attitude like Yang. The only other guys to come close to taking one from Tiger were Bob May and an at the time 19 year old Sergio Garcia. It's guys who don't feel the pressure the same way that will continue to be dangerous to Tiger.

So what will the affect be? Well some of Tiger's invincibility has been taken away but he is still going to be the best guy out here for a long time. And as much as other guys think they can take him down now, I think that will be offset by Tiger's determination to not let it happen again. You now that night had to have been one of the worst of his life and I really don't think he is in a hurry to repeat it.

Some have said that he may not break Jack's record of 18 majors anymore. Horseshit. That is still inevitable (especially with the US Open and British being played at Pebble and St. Andrew's next year. Those two are automatic for him) but I don't think he is going to win the 25 he may have been on pace for a few years ago. Mitch Albom recently put it best when he said we are now watching the rest of Tiger's career. It is going to be a lot harder for him to win his next 5-7 majors (which would put him at 21 and I think that will be it) than it was for him to win the first 14. And a large reason for that is the young guys like Anthony Kim and Rory McIlroy who gave grown up watching Tiger and have the same kind of "I'm out here to kick ass" football mentality that Tiger brought to the tour. Those guys are going to start winning with regularity very soon and it will cut into the older guys victory totals.

As far the FedEx Cup that starts this week though, Tiger is as close to a lock to win it as there ever will be. He goes into it in the lead and any event that requires the consistency of four great weeks and has a $10 million top prize has his name written all over it.

The PGA

The easiest thing to do, again, is to pick Tiger to win this week. Yes he has won all four pre-major tournaments he has entered this year and not won the major following it but the PGA is a bit different. He is gunning to tie for the most PGA's ever and he hasn't won a major this year so he will be more motivated than ever. So I expect a top 4 finish but I am not picking him.

Hazeltine has been lengthened the way all other major courses seem to these days. All lengthening these courses does however, is really narrow the field of potential winners. Eventually somebody will clue in and realize the best thing for golf is difficult courses in the 7000 yard range that reward great shot making and not just 340 yard drives.

But I digress. Because Hazeltine is so long it is only going to be a big hitter who wins. So who if not Tiger? One of Angel Cabrera, Paddy Harrington or Henrik Stenson. I think Cabrera is going to go the Kenny Perry route and just get better as he gets older except he is much more talented than Perry. He absolutely destroys the ball off the tee and makes every clutch putt with his easy stroke. He also has the perfect quiet "I want to kill everybody else out here but just won't say it" kind if mentality. He would absolutely not be intimidated by a Tiger Sunday pairing. Same goes for Paddy who had a great week last week until put on the clock. He hits bombs and has proven he can win big ones. And Tiger respects him more than any other guy out there so you know he must be damn good. But I think Stenson is the guy who will finally break through. He hits huge drives but is also great with his long irons, which is essential for this course, and has been close in recent majors. This week he puts it all together.

Back From Vacation

Ms. Skeelo and I are now back from our two week vacation in the UK. I may even post some pictures.

I'll be back tomorrow with some posts.