This Week at WorldGolf.com: Nov. 23, 2005

Enjoy the silliness, but
remember, this is Tiger's time

As silly seasons go, the world of golf is getting some pretty good bang for the buck this year.

This week, Michelle Wie will tee it up as a pro for the second time (no news on whether any Sports Illustrated writers with book deals will attend). She'll battle the men at the Casio World Open in Japan and should get headlines in everything from Wall Street Journal to Ladies Home Journal as the public remains mesmerized by the lanky teenager.

Bart Bryant put on a good show to win the Tour Championship, while David Duval sprung back onto the sports pages with a some solid play after such an extended run of mediocrity. Paula Creamer fired a shot at Annika Sorenstam in what could be the beginning of an interesting free-for-all rivalry on the LPGA. Heck, The Golf Channel has announced they'll be showing a new reality show starring John Daly. This falls under the theory that any PR is good PR, one should suppose.

There can be no denying that golf fans are the winners in all of this, but a reality check is in order. History will show us that this era in golf means one thing, and one thing only - Tiger Woods.

This is by no means a slam on Sorenstam, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Colin Montgomerie, et al. History will be as kind to them as it has been to Gary Player, Ben Crenshaw and Nancy Lopez.

But when all is said and done, historians will look back at today's game and see mostly Tiger, as they should. Where other sports have their Wayne Gretzkys, Wilt Chamberlains and Babe Ruths, golf will have Tiger Woods.

In 2005, Woods was again the pace setter - two major championships with Top-5 finishes in the other two; six victories and $11 million in winnings. His scoring average was 68.66.

Tiger Woods won't turn 30 until Dec. 30, and has won 10 majors. We've heard about Tiger's aim at Jack Nicklaus's 18 majors for a long time now, and it's slowly gone from pipe dream to something that's almost expected. Let's face it, there's a good chance that in the decade of his 30s, Woods may just obliterate Nicklaus's amazing achievement.

While the future gives no promises, it's becoming a safer and safer bet that Woods will completely rewrite golf history. We are being treated to the best there is, at his prime. So while others will rightfully capture our attention, let's not forget the big picture - this era belongs to Tiger Woods.

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Golf a great way to experience
the Tuscany countryside

By any standards of tourism, Tuscany is one of the world's superpowers, featuring more culture and history than most travelers can absorb. With Michaelangelo's David, Ponte Vecchio, 42 museums and a dozen churches, Tuscany is an amusement park for those that enjoy art, architecture and style. Don't count out Tuscany as a golf destination, however, as the city is riding high on being named the No. 1 emerging golf destination by a London travel association.

Full story | Blog: Golf in Italy -- food, wine and a press revolt

Redline 460 Dual driver combines
biggest head and moveable weights

By combining the two hottest trends in golf clubs today -- 460cc heads and moveable weights - Adams' Redline 460 Dual driver should help set your mind at ease that in terms of equipment, you are doing all that you can do to help your game. While it won't eliminate your slice, once you get the hang of this light-feeling club, you could find yourself hammering towering drives, and possibly gaining more accuracy from the tees.

Full story | Also: Tim McDonald on the Adams Redline RPM 430Q

Want something new in Phoenix
Scottsdale golf? Go West Valley!

Oft times, the success of a golf course depends on three major issues: location, location and location. Located barely 30 miles from Scottsdale, the West Valley region of the Phoenix-Scottsdale corridor has long lived in the shadows of its more famous counterparts. These days, the West Valley is becoming a new golf hot spot with Wigwam, Trilogy at Vistancia and Raven at Verrado showcasing a growing area that has golfers taking a second look.

Full story | Also: Your one-stop shop for planning an AZ golf vacation