Woods Again Is a Cut Above Challengers

Who’s the hottest golfer on the PGA Tour? Silly question. But a month ago, it was Phil Mickelson, right up to the 72nd hole at Winged Foot, where Tiger Woods had missed his first cut in a major as a pro. But now, Woods is safely and convincingly in the lead, after his two-shot victory in the British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

Vijay Singh? Missed the cut. Ernie Els? Couldn’t keep up. Mickelson? Ditto. Retief Goosen? No factor. Sergio Garcia? Couldn’t make a putt.

Woods, whose three victories are the most on the tour, has won three of his last seven majors, which trumps Mickelson’s mark of three of his last nine, before the U.S. Open.

What’s more, Woods’ margin over second-ranked Mickelson in the world rankings (18.28-9.77 for an 8.51-point difference) matches Mickelson’s lead over 126th-ranked Brett Rumford of Australia (1.26).

Cold hard stats: Woods’ 85.7 percentage of hitting fairways at Hoylake to win the British Open is the highest for any winner on the PGA Tour this year.

Woods leads the tour in scoring (69.14 average), greens in regulation (71.9%) and earnings ($4.26 million). The downside? He’s tied for 157th in driving accuracy, hitting 58.3% of fairways.

Woods contacted Annika Sorenstam, who is playing the Evian Masters in France, and needled her that he now leads her in major championship victories, 11-10.

Said Sorenstam: “It was a pretty smart comment, just letting me know, in case I hadn’t noticed, that he had won another major.”

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The Senior British Open, which begins today at Turnberry, Scotland, might be old-home week for Tom Watson. It was Watson who won four of his five Open championships in Scotland, including his memorable victory over Jack Nicklaus in 1977 at Turnberry.

In that one, Watson shot 65-65 on the weekend to squeeze past Nicklaus, who shot 65-66, by one shot. Nicklaus, who had lost to Watson at Augusta National three months earlier, was not accustomed to having someone withstand the pressure he was always able to apply to others.

It was the beginning of Watson’s greatest seasons -- he won 33 times, including seven majors, from 1977 to 1984.

Watson turns 57 in September.

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Sponsor Merry-Go-Round: The Colonial in Fort Worth, where Sorenstam made huge headlines when she crossed over to play on the PGA Tour in 2003, thanks to input by sponsor Bank of America, will become the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in 2007. Bank of America cashed out as sponsor in May.

The tournament had Colonial as an integral part of its name since it began in 1946 when Ben Hogan won the first of his five titles at Colonial Country Club.

On the other hand, it’s the first tournament with a hotel chain as a title sponsor, which could lead to some new definitions. For instance: Checking Out (missing the cut); Room Service (kick-in birdie); Housekeeping (raking the bunker); Operator (Tiger, or whoever’s leading).

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Chris DiMarco moved to sixth in the latest U.S. Ryder Cup point standings, but there are still four rookies who would make the team if it were chosen this week: J.J. Henry, Zach Johnson, Brett Wetterich and John Rollins. DiMarco earned fewer points (360) for his second-place finish at the British Open than Rollins did for winning the B.C. Open (375).

The last tournament opportunity to pick up Ryder Cup points is the PGA Championship, Aug. 17-20, at Medinah Country Club. Captain Tom Lehman will make his two captain’s picks the day after the tournament ends, and 11th and 12th in the current points standings are two more rookies -- Vaughn Taylor and Lucas Glover.

Bernhard Langer, who was the European captain in 2004 when the U.S. had its worst defeat in Ryder Cup history, has offered to help Ian Woosnam, this year’s captain, if he needs any advice. How to offer a toast?

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Two-time Southern California Golf Assn. amateur champion Scott McGihon of Bermuda Dunes, defending champ Alex Prugh and 2007 Walker Cup captain Buddy Marucci are entered in the 90-player field for the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship, Monday through Aug. 4 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

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Qualifying for the California State Open will be held Aug. 3 at Rio Hondo Country Club in Downey. The championship begins Sept. 26 at Redhawk Golf Club and CrossCreek Golf Club in Temecula. Details: (951) 845-43653.

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This week

*--* PGA TOUR U.S. Bank Championship

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* When: Today-Sunday.

* Where: Brown Deer Park Golf Course (6,759 yards, par 70), Milwaukee.

* TV: USA (today-Friday, 4-6 p.m. PST, delayed) and Channel 2 (Saturday-Sunday, noon-3 p.m. PST).

* 2005 winner: Ben Crane.

*--* CHAMPIONS/EUROPEAN TOUR Senior British Open

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* When: Today-Sunday.

* Where: Westin Turnberry Resort, Ailsa Course (7,012 yards, par 70), Turnberry, Scotland.

* TV: TNT (Today-Friday, noon-2 p.m. PST, delayed) and Channel 7 Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PST).

* 2005 winner: Tom Watson.

Source: Associated Press