2008 Season and the Buick Open: Tiger Woods Vs. Phil Mickelson

If Tiger doesn't swing, does the PGA Tour make a sound? Usually not. That is why the official beginning to the 2008 season starts this week in La Jolla, California. The Buick Open is the first event Tiger Woods will play in this year and Phil Mickelson will be there too. So, the question quickly becomes...who will be on top at the end of this year?

Unfortunately for the rest of the PGA Tour, the answer is easy. Tiger. There is no reason Tiger shouldn't win this week and dominate the entire year. Phil Mickelson has been his only constant competition over the last few years, but there's only one person who can stop Tiger. And that is Tiger. He doesn't have any distractions this year and his wife isn't pregnant. I guess we can try to distract him with the Kelly Tilgham controversey, but that won't matter.

Phil Mickelson always makes a good run at the Buick, but he is not a good enough clutch putter or scrambler to win. The winner of this tournament every year is a long hitter, mainly because the course is over 7,400. Plus, the rough is no joke. Therefore, you have to be a long hitter to win. Even if you hit a lot of fairways, birdies will be a minimum if you are only 275 off the tee. Phil definitely has the length, but his scrambling will cause him to falter. When it comes to Saturday and Sunday, you'll see him come back to the pack, especially if it gets windy along the coast.

Tiger on the other hand is solid all the way around. He has already proved he can win an event hitting 4-irons into the green after 2-iron off the tee (see British Open). He is also one of the best putters inside of 10 feet which will help on the Torrey Pine greens that don't allow you to get really close. Combine that with his ridiculous length and amazing wedge play, his B game is better than everyone's A game. So, look for Tiger to start slow on the South Course, make up some ground on Friday on the North Course, then play steady 69's over the weekend to win. Expect the same a lot this year. I can easily see him racking up 3 majors and a total of 6 wins. Remember, the U.S. Open will be back to Torrey Pines in a few months.