Golf Without Tiger

SignOnSanDiego has an interesting article on how things might be different without Tiger Woods:

Majors mean the most, and there are players whose lives and careers would be significantly altered without Woods.

Garcia, still seeking his first major title this week, would have been the 1999 PGA champion at 19; Mickelson would have won the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage and be three-quarters of the way to the career Grand Slam; Scotsman Colin Montgomerie, cursed in majors, could have strolled down the home hole at St. Andrews in full glory as the ‘05 British Open champion.

Chris DiMarco would have reached the next level with two majors, the ‘05 Masters and ‘06 British Open. Tom Kite, Retief Goosen and David Duval could be visiting Augusta for life as Masters champions. Woody Austin and Bob May could have won the PGA.

And, of course, there is the star-crossed career of Ernie Els. In three straight starts in 2000, the two-time U.S. Open champ finished second behind Woods, including runner-up ties in the U.S. Open and British Open. Five times overall, Els has finished second on the PGA Tour to Woods, matching Singh as Woods’ biggest victim.

Four times Mickelson has placed solo second to Woods.

The article also explores other areas, such as charitable giving, and golf marketing. It’s really worth a read.