Woods Gives Incentive To His Rivals

Perhaps there have been years that were as eventful for the sport of golf as last year was, but certainly not within the last three decades or so. And the most exhilarating thought of all as we continue to ponder the heady heights of the season of the Tiger is that 1996 might have been only a stage-setter for what is to come.

The game has been altered for the better. Standards have been raised, mind-sets have been changed. This portends a landmark season.

First, there is the Tiger Woods effect. The ripples still are being felt, but the certainty is this: The arrival of this big talent in the big leagues has been the single most powerful catalyst for change since 1962, when a chubby blond kid with a crewcut began beating everyone’s brains out.

Simply put, just as Jack Nicklaus did, Woods has changed the professional player’s perceptions of what is possible.

After Woods won a third straight U.S. Amateur (unprecedented), he signed endorsement deals worth $60 million (unprecedented) and won two of the first seven events he played as a pro (unprecedented). Barely 21, the kid is batting 1.000 in the exceptional department, and his peers on the PGA Tour have taken notice. This is not just good, this is thrilling.

It has had an effect on players from Fred Couples to Fred Funk. It is because of Woods - and Couples might protest, but we’re not buying it - that Fred has decided to leap off the couch, stay off the transoceanic flights and play 26 or 27 events on the PGA Tour in ‘97. Couples hasn’t played that much in the States since 1987, and there’s no coincidence about the timing.

“Freddie’s not the only one to think, ‘Hey, this guy’s not going to come out here and just take over,”’ said one of Couples’ tour buddies.

It is against this backdrop that we view some likely ‘97 scenarios.

First Tiger win of ‘97

Woods’ early schedule leading up to the Masters begins at the season-opening Mercedes Championships at La Costa, Calif., continues at the Phoenix Open, the AT&T Pebble Beach, the Nissan Open at Los Angeles’ Riviera Country Club (after side trips to Thailand and Australia), the Doral-Ryder Open, the Bay Hill Invitational and the Players Championship. His first victory could come as early as the Mercedes.

Most likely to be motivated

It’s a toss-up between Greg Norman, who will be fresh when he starts at Doral and who says that early work with his new teacher, David Leadbetter, has cured his chronically sore back, and Phil Mickelson, whose excellent four-victory season was eclipsed by the Woods glare. Bet on the lefty to turn it up a notch, but don’t count out Norman.

Shiniest new face

Stewart Cink, the all-time leading money winner on the Nike Tour, was the last player to outshine Tiger. He was the college player of the year at Georgia Tech in 1995 when Woods was a freshman, and now he will be a tour freshman as Woods is a tour sophomore.

Forget-me-not

Tom Lehman, the 1996 player of the year, is just reaching his peak at age 37; Paul Azinger, who had 10 top-3 finishes in 1993 before cancer struck, will be back on form after his nadir of one top 10 in 1996; Nick Price, who has … who knows where he has been?