Rory, Tiger and Chevron in This Week's Top 10

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This past week has been mainly about Tiger Woods winning for the first time in two years.  Never mind that it was a limited field. Never mind that it’s not official money.  It has world ranking points. Huh?  That’s a political coup.  World ranking points for an 18-man field?  Oh well, if we were in charge, stuff would make more sense.  So without further delay, this week’s top 10:

10. Turkey Sandwiches, Leftover Stuffing & Golden Gobbler

Aaron Rogers won Golden Gobbler
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A nod to the best holiday we have because all you have to do is show up at a relative’s house and eat. As my brother said, “I never know where food comes from. It’s just there.”   Anybody have a recipe for turkey pot pie?

After some years of frustration at being passed over, Aaron Rodgers won the Golden Gobbler award, which we mention because there's no picture of a turkey.  

 

9. PGA Tour

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The PGA Tour got an early Christmas present when Tiger Woods won the Chevron World Challenge.  They got a second one when Woods said that in 2012 he would play in some tournaments he has not played in before.  Most people believe this means the Honda Classic since it is close to his new home in Jupiter, Florida. 

8. Chevron Leaves Tiger’s Tournament

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After going through the entire scandal without batting an eyelash, Chevron has finally ended its association with Woods’ tournament, just as Woods looks to be on the upswing.  Isn’t this the time to request a renewal at a good price for being “loyal”? 

7. Steve Stricker’s Putting Tips

Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker
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After all the gurus and coaches, it was Steve Stricker who finally helped Tiger Woods get his putting back on track.  Combined with some advice from Sean Foley to go back to his poa annua putting stroke, Woods was finally able to roll his rock like the Old Tiger.  We understand Foley’s motivation, but there are probably a lot of people who wish Stricker would have kept his thoughts to himself. Maybe he just spent too much time in the duck blind in Wisconsin.

 

6. 15th and 16th at Sherwood CC

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Usually the 15^th hole at Sherwood CC is pretty, but not really totally scary.  The Santa Ana winds took care of that.  Tiger Woods used the same club to hit over the green one day and the next day his ball landed in the water. Go figure. 

The 16^th, a scenic, par five, birdie hole, became the site of one scoring catastrophe after another.  In the final round, Zach Johnson birdied it to go one ahead of Tiger Woods setting up Wood’s spectacular birdie-birdie finish.

5. Woodland and Kuchar Win World Cup

Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar win World Cup
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Matt Kuchar said it took Gary Woodland about five seconds to agree to play in the World Cup.  Was it because he was shocked to be asked? Possibly. Smart move by the Kooch, though.  The US team had not won since Tiger Woods paired with David Duval in 2000.  

4. McIlroy Wins UBS Hong Kong

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With his victory in Hong Kong, Rory McIlroy kept his chances to win the European money title alive and put serious pressure on Luke Donald who is still trying to be the only one in history to win both the European and PGA Tour money titles. 

3. Lee Westwood Wins Nedbank

Lee Westwood
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Showing he has not forgotten how to trample a field, Lee Westwood, the guy who was No. 1 before Luke Donald, won the Nedbank Challenge by five shots and despite shooting a final round 73. 

2. Donald V McIlroy for All the Money

Donald and McIlroy
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Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy go toe-to-toe or tee-to-tee this week at the Dubai World Championship.  To take over the number one money spot, Rory has to win and have Luke finish lower than tenth.   Making matters more interesting, they are paired with each other the first two rounds.

1. Tiger Finally Wins Again

Tiger Woods wins Chevron World Challenge
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Something everyone thought would happen as routinely as the sun coming up did not happen for two years: Tiger Woods wining a golf tournament.  What has happened to Woods since 2009, you’d only wish on your worst enemy.  (Be honest. If it was your worst enemy, you’d wish it on them.)  Finally, the end of the depths of being Tiger