Others got to be talk of the tour

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Tiger Woods posed next to the trophy on the 18th green, a familiar scene with a rare twist. It was Sunday, and his clothing did not include so much as a trace of red.

Plus, he was wearing a jacket – black, not green.

He was merely the host of the Chevron World Challenge. His duty was to thank sponsors and volunteers and give the trophy to Vijay Singh.

“I’m on the operational side this week,” Woods said.

That still beats being operated on, which is why no one had seen Woods at a tournament in any capacity since he won the U.S. Open, his last event before season-ending knee surgery. He went the final 188 days of the golf season without hitting a single shot, opening a host of opportunities for those he regularly beats.

There were some who benefited from Woods spending more time chasing his daughter than chasing Jack Nicklaus last season

And there were some who didn’t.

The next four players behind Woods in the world ranking after he won the U.S. Open – Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Ernie Els – combined to play 41 times and produced one victory over the last six months. The only time Mickelson made headlines was because of something Woods’ caddie said.

Woods simply gobbles up so much attention when he plays, whether he wins or finishes fifth (his worst finish this year). During a discussion about rivals, Nicklaus once told Woods that the most important thing was to be part of the conversation.

With the world’s No. 1 player out of sight the second half of the season, the conversation shifted to five players:

•Padraig Harrington: The Irishman joined some truly elite company by becoming only the seventh player in the last 50 years to win consecutive majors in the same season. The others were Woods, Nick Price, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer.

•Anthony Kim: Everyone raves about Kim’s raw skill and unlimited potential. It was worth paying attention to when he delivered.

The first victory came at Quail Hollow by five shots against a strong field. Then came a two-shot victory at Congressional to join Woods, Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott to become the only players in the last 10 years to win multiple times in a season before turning 25.

•Camilo Villegas: Even when he wasn’t contending, Villegas was promoted for his magazine looks and stylish clothing. But he is No. 7 in the world, and rightfully mentioned in a growing group of young stars.

•Sergio Garcia: Garcia restored his star power by winning The Players Championship and twice losing in extra holes during the PGA Tour playoffs – one to Singh, another to Villegas.

•Boo Weekley: Weekley is barely ranked inside the top 50 in the world, yet he is becoming somewhat of an icon in American golf, helped by his homespun country humor, simplistic outlook and galloping down fairway at the Ryder Cup using his driver as a toy horse. Golf needs characters, and Weekley delivers.

Asked who benefited the most from his absence, Woods focused on youth – Kim, Villegas, Garcia.

“They’re hitting their stride now,” he said. “They’re coming into their own.”

The question is whether they can keep pace when Woods is wearing a red shirt on Sunday, not a black jacket.