There is also his ability to play all surfaces, the classic American ones and the classic links. That is a talent Phil Mickelson doesn’t have, so there is one threat by the board when July rolls around and the British Open enters our landscape.

Consider the April venue, Augusta National. Woods is a master on it when it’s hard and fast. When it’s wet, he’s one of five or six guys who can win.

The U.S. Open? Forget the missed-cut at Winged Foot, this style of golf fits him perfectly, because it’s patience and focus, qualities he is overflowing with.

Links golf? This is where he’s at his best. It’s “where you have to think and chase shots and be creative,” said Woods, who probably would have won this affair at Royal Liverpool by 10 shots had the wind blown. Hey, it goes back to St. Andrews every five years, don’t forget, and we know what that means for him.

The PGA Championship? OK, so it’s a crap-shoot there, because it’s so similar to the weekly PGA Tour set-ups, but just the fact that it wears “major championship” in its description makes Woods a clear choice every August.

Slide show Woods' world As these images show, there’s more to Tiger Woods than simply golf more photos

He’s not yet 31. He’s got a burning desire to practice and get better. He doesn’t dabble in golf-course design and he doesn’t care a lick about hanging out with celebrities and rubbing elbows with business tycoons. He is all about golf and being the best the game has ever seen.

Give him six or seven or maybe eight or nine years and he’ll have the ultimate record to prove that he is. It will be before he’s 40, at which time I gather he’ll be just about figuring out how to really play the game.

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