Tiger Two-Step
Tiger Woodscompleted a trip to Asia, and the operative number was two. In two weeks heplayed two events (HSBC Champions and Dunlop Phoenix) in two countries (Chinaand Japan) and finished second in both. The runners-up are a mild surprise,considering that Woods began the excursion having won six straight official PGATour events. What did him in at the HSBC was a rusty first-round 72 in hisfirst competitive 18 since the last week of September. More troubling was hisfinish at the Dunlop Phoenix, in which he went into the final round tied forthe lead with Padraig Harrington. With six holes left, Woods was three shotsup, but Harrington went four under on the back nine to force a playoff, thenbirdied the first two playoff holes to win. It was only the sixth time in 51worldwide starts that Woods either led or held a share of the lead after 54holes and failed to win, and only the second time in 16 playoffs that he'slost. Still, it's unlikely that Woods considers the trip a disappointment. Heplayed in the final group both weeks, ringing up untold exposure for himselfand his corporate sponsors, and just for showing up, he reportedly collected $3million checks. Two of them to be exact.
Dropouts
In the finalstage of the PGA Tour's Q school (Nov. 29--Dec. 4 in La Quinta, Calif.), 163guys will play for 30 Tour cards, but the pros who've made it that far havealready locked up a spot on the Nationwide tour. That's why a loss in lastweek's second stage was so devastating. The former Tour winners who washed outhave no place to play in '07. They include Bobby Clampett, Michael Clark,Trevor Dodds, Joel Edwards, Jim Gallagher, David Gossett, Gary Hallberg, NolanHenke, Brian Henninger, Gabriel Hjerstedt, Mike Hulbert, Greg Kraft, NealLancaster, Ian Leggatt, Len Mattiace, Blaine McCallister, Jim McGovern, SpikeMcRoy, David Ogrin, Steve Pate, Phil Tataurangi and Grant Waite.
ALSO ...
•The PGA Tourannounced a change in the FedEx Cup Championship Series. Instead of 144 playersadvancing each week, the field will be reduced after each of the first threeevents, from 144 at the Barclays Classic, to 120 at the Deutsche BankChampionship, to 70 at the BMW Championship and 30 at the Tour Championship. •Brian Whitcomb, 51, of Bend, Ore., was elected the 35th president of the PGA ofAmerica last Saturday. Whitcomb, who replaces Roger Warren, had been vicepresident for the last three years.
Survey Says...
The 32 women atlast week's ADT Championship used eight different woods. Morgan Pressel (above)used four, including a 25-degree 11-wood. Here are the details.
Wood Pros
1        32
2        1
3        25
4        4
5        19
7        11
9        2
11      1
The DarrellSurvey has tracked equipment usage at tournaments since 1938.
• For complete LGSkins Game coverage, go to SI.com/golf.
"Wie reflects the world as it actually exists forwomen." --MY SHOT, PAGE G18
For Sale
Better than Augusta National, and at a fraction of thecost
WHAT
The Ravines Club
WHERE
Middleburg, Fla.
COST
$2.8 million
HOOK
A rare Florida course with severe elevation changes and tree-lined fairways,the Ravines was designed by former Tour pro Mark McCumber, who is rumored tohave said, "It's better than Augusta National."
FRINGE BENEFIT
Two flocks of wild turkeys live on the property, which borders the deceptivelydeep Black Creek, allowing players to arrive by boat if they choose.
PHOTO
SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AP
BIGSHOT
Woods lost in a playoff in Japan but was still the center ofattention.
PHOTO
DAVID CANNON/GETTY IMAGES
PHOTO
COURTESY OF THE RAVINES CLUB & LODGE
The Ravines