Getting Free Drop Under Tree

This afternoon, when the door slams one final time in the three-story Georgian Colonial clubhouse and the last courtesy car takes a left down the red brick driveway at Sherwood Country Club, we will say goodbye to the golf pros until January.

By about 3 o’clock, they’re on vacation from all events, official and otherwise, at least as they relate to golf. The holidays are here and the players can devote their time to even more important issues, such as buying presents. That should keep all of them busy, no one more so than Bernhard Langer, who is shopping for his wife and four children, ages 2 to 16. Maybe he can get a group discount.

At this time of the year, it’s important that the players don’t get left out, because after 11 1/2 months of whacking golf balls at swank country clubs and posh golf resorts over the world after arriving in their private jets, they deserve some Christmas gifts just as much as anyone.

And they might even find something under the tree that would come in handy closing the gap on Tiger Woods.

Someone may already have started making a list, such as Woods, who is in hot pursuit of a yacht he’s looking to purchase, obviously to expand the gap everyone else is trying to close. Ahoy, Capt. Tiger.

Here are a few suggestions for the lucky 16 players who are dividing $3.8 million at the Target World Challenge.

For Phil Mickelson -- Winning a major, which is the only thing that’s going to bring him closer to Woods, not that hug we saw at the Skins Game. Also, a new putter, one that doesn’t look as if it belongs on the roof and can bring in 155 channels.

For Woods -- Not a single thing, except for someone to drive his boat so he can squeeze in some more practice by knocking golf balls off the bow.

For Davis Love III -- A healthy back and neck for an entire season

For Jim Furyk -- Driving it farther (he ranked 173rd this year), putting it better (ranked 114th), and a whole year without a question about why his swing looks like something he got out of a box.

For Retief Goosen -- Winning a bookend major to go along with the 2001 U.S. Open to prove he remains a threat each time out, and also a whole year without a question about being struck by lightning or how to spell his golf shrink’s name. (It’s Jos Vanstiphout).

For Padraig Harrington -- A map of the United States, so he’ll play over here more often and prove once again that he’s one of the rare players who don’t fall victim to the Tiger Fear Factor.

For Colin Montgomerie -- A healthy back, a jolly attitude and a pair of earmuffs to put over his rabbit ears.

For Nick Price -- A house without a calendar so he won’t be reminded he turns 47 next month, plus a videotape of highlights that showed how he won $2.17 million this year at 46.

For David Toms -- Driving it farther (114th this year), and continued mastery on the greens, where he was second only to Bob Heintz. Also, a national championship for his beloved alma mater, LSU.

For Langer -- A Ryder Cup captain’s job in 2004, plus somebody to take that cap off his head and round out the brim that’s so flat it looks as if you could serve salad on it.

For Vijay Singh -- A vacation from the range. Nobody should work that hard except the guy running the ball machine.

Rich Beem -- No wake-up call. It was magic when he won the PGA Championship, holding off that Woods guy, which put him at the top for a moment ... and leaving him only one way to go after that.

Michael Campbell -- A charge in the majors, which he didn’t do this year: 46th at the Masters, 119th at the U.S. Open, 84th at the British Open, 23rd at the PGA.

Chris DiMarco -- A fourth consecutive year with a victory. Also, getting a patent for the “claw” putting grip.

Bob Estes -- Another year when he seems to just show up and finish in the top 10. He did it eight times. Also, a consistent hairstyle. It’s either long, shaggy, short or something in between and his barber is getting a complex.

Mark O’Meara -- A Skins Game next Thanksgiving weekend when he socks away close to $500,000 again, not to mention a PGA Tour victory, which would be his first in five years. Also, the house next door to Woods to keep the influence pipeline flowing: You never know when that’s going to come in handy.