They’re Trying to Catch a Tiger

The first PGA Tour event of the year begins today, the $5.3-million Mercedes Championships, but they already have started playing a little hardball. The gap, they say, is getting smaller. Tiger Woods is no longer that far ahead of everybody else.

Ernie Els said he has noticed the gap closing.

Davis Love III said the gap is narrowing.

Woods said, what gap?

“Have they closed the gap?” Woods asked. “I don’t know. I feel when I’m playing well, I’m tough to beat.”

So says the six-time PGA Tour player of the year, who has now won the highest award on the men’s pro tour the last five years. And in that five-year span, Woods has won 32 times and made nearly $34 million. But if there is any wobble in Woods’ gait as he enters 2004 it is that last year he failed to win at least one major title for the first time since 1998.

Els, Love and 27 others, all of them tournament winners from 2003, gather at the Plantation Course to try to close the gap, or whatever it is, on Woods, and right from the beginning.

Els is the defending champion and ranked No. 3 in the world, behind Woods and Vijay Singh. Els won the first two events of the year in 2003, neither of which featured Woods, who was sidelined after knee surgery.

Els said Woods simply doesn’t enjoy that great an advantage over the regular PGA Tour pro any more.

“I think things have changed a little bit. I think the Tiger effect is not as strong as it used to be. It’s not as huge as it used to be maybe three, four years ago. I think guys go into a week and feel, you know, if they play their games, it might be good enough.”

Woods came to Maui in high spirits and in good shape. He took a week off after his tournament at Sherwood in mid-December, then went right to work. Woods said he has noticed some positive signs in his practice, especially with his swing. He said he has been trying to maintain his levels, or lines, on his downswing.

Love won four times in 2003, the same as Singh, but one fewer than Woods.

“We’ve said stuff like, ‘He’s hard to beat when he plays his best,’ and we get beat up for being honest, but he’s the guy to beat, no argument,” Love said. “Can he be beaten? Yeah, he knows he can be beaten. He didn’t win 20 times last year.”

Singh replaced Woods as the top money winner in 2003 and said he thinks he has a chance to take away the No. 1 ranking from Woods as well.

“I like to play the way I’ve been playing,” Singh said. “I cannot play any worse and get No. 1, let’s put it that way. I need to improve, take a step a little further, and catch Tiger.

“You know, I don’t think I can catch him this year. But maybe in a year or so.”

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Michelle Wie, 14, played in the pro-am Wednesday, but her big time comes next week in Honolulu when she will play the Sony Open against the PGA Tour pros.

Wie said she had a short chat with Annika Sorenstam.

“She said, ‘Are you ready for next week?’ ” Wie said. “I said, ‘I sure hope so.’ ”

Last May, Sorenstam became the first woman in 58 years to play a PGA Tour event.

Bobby Verway, who is Gary Player’s nephew and caddie, will caddie for Wie next week.

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This Week

PGA TOUR

Mercedes Championships

* When: Today-Sunday.

* Where: Kapalua Resort, the Plantation Course (7,263 yards, par 73); Kapalua, Hawaii.

* Purse: $5.3 million. Winner’s share: $1.06 million and a 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500.

* TV: ESPN (today-Sunday, 4-7:30 p.m.).

* Field: 2003 PGA Tour winners, including Fred Couples, Ben Curtis, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen, Scott Hoch, John Huston, Peter Jacobsen, Justin Leonard, Davis Love III, Kenny Perry, Rory Sabbatini, Vijay Singh, Craig Stadler, Kirk Triplett, Bob Tway, Mike Weir and Tiger Woods.

* 2003 winner: Els.

* Next week: The Sony Open at Waialae, Hawaii.