Dan O'Neill

TULSA, Okla. - Nice to see Geoff Ogilvy playing well, poor boy hasn’t won since picking up Phil Mickelson’s U.S. Open leftovers at Winged Foot last year.

How about Scott Verplank, what a great story that is. The Oklahoma State product is making the most of the home-field advantage.

Verplank was one of the most highly regarded players ever to come out on the PGA Tour, but he has had setback after setback, what with the diabetes and the injuries. He’s still managed to have a nice career and what a feel-good story it would be to see him win a major at age 43.

It’s great to see those boys near the top of the board — thanks, fellas. Thanks to all of you in the PGA Championship field for coming to Southern Hills this week, putting in some hot days and filling out the scoreboard.

Now tell us Don Pardo, what kind of parting gifts do we have for these fine gentlemen?

OK, perhaps the farewells are a bit premature. But it’s hard to see things otherwise, hard to see through the dust storm sweeping across the parched, oven-roasted lawns of Southern Hills Country Club on Friday, a trail of topsoil the likes of which haven’t been seen in these parts since the 1930s.

That cloud was created by none other than Tiger Woods, a man who has 12 majors in his pocket and one squarely in his sights. As of Friday afternoon, the PGA Championship, commonly referred to as “Glory’s Last Shot,” officially became TW’s Last Stand. The only thing hotter than Tulsa is Tiger.

“Whether it was from (Wayne) Gretzky or (Michael) Jordan, whomever it may be. It’s just amazing when guys get it going and its’ fun to watch,” Woods said. “I always think it’s fun to watch if they’re performing that way at the championship game, when the title’s on the line. Some guys just seem to take it to the next level.”

This 2007 year has been special for Woods’ personally, with the arrival of his first child. It has been rewarding for him professionally, with four victories and more than $6.7 million in earnings worldwide. But the game's No. 1 star — the sports world’s No. 1 star — would be the first to tell you his playing achievements are defined first and foremost by major championships. 

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He was second at Augusta, second at Oakmont, tied for 12^th at Carnoustie. To quote Donna Summer, this was his last dance, last chance for love.

And in the second round of the 89^th PGA Championship, he made a bold move to fill the glaring omission on his 2007 card. Beginning the day six shots off the pace of the first-round lead, he finished the day two shots ahead with a second-round lead.

He saw Verplank’s 66, called Ogilvy’s 68 and raised the bar with a 7-under-par 63. Never mind that a score of 63 is generally an indication you are doing something right. Never mind that in weather conditions that are turning this golf tournament into a Bataan March, the finely-conditioned Woods looks as fresh as his newborn baby girl.

But consider this: When he has the lead after 36 holes, Woods has never lost (7-0). In six previous major events at Southern Hills, the 36-hole leader has gone on to win the tournament. You don’t need a panel of ex-jocks or talking heads to tell you “Who’s Now?” at Southern Hills.

“Certainly, it does give you some confidence, no doubt about that,” Woods said of those imposing statistics. “I know what to do. It’s just a matter of going out there and doing it. We’ve got a long way to go.”

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