Tom Lewis: His 65 at Royal St George’s last summer was a record low by an amateur.

THERE was a time not so long ago when Tiger Woods ruled the majors and picking a winner was easy. You didn’t have to get it right but few would argue with your selection.

FOR once the man in the black hat turned out to be the good guy.

SOMEWHERE in our travels from Thanksgiving to spring in the US, the unprecedented controversy involving Tiger Woods has been turned into a personal crusade by many, as if the golfer’s serious character flaws had directly hurt them.

FOR reasons that are as different as a birdie is to a bogey, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have not been totally involved in the business of the PGA Tour for months now.

Two days after telling Jack Nicklaus that Augusta National had become too tough for him, 60-year-old Tom Watson revived memories of last year’s Open with a brilliant start to the 2010 Masters.

Graeme McDowell thanked his good fortune at Tiger Woods’ expense as he booked his ticket to the 2010 Masters last night.

THERE was a time when Irish golf fans would have been dancing in the streets with three players finishing inside the top 10 in a major.