We all know who No. 1 is. But lost behind the dominance of Tiger Woods is a host of other Southland golfers who did well for themselves during the first two months of the PGA Tour schedule:
1. Tiger WoodsHow can Woods not be No. 1 – the Cypress native hasn’t lost yet this year. If he keeps giving himself chances to win with smart ball striking and an incredible short game, he may never lose again. Just remember to take a moment and realize how remarkable it is to watch an athlete of his caliber compete.
2. Phil MickelsonAfter overcoming a respiratory problem prior to the Buick Invitatonal, Mickelson did well enough on the West Coast Swing to remind us he is the No. 2 golfer in the world. Making the cut at Pebble Beach and winning the FBR Open playoff would have been nice, but a long-sought victory at the Northern Trust Open has to feel good for the San Diegan.
3. Kevin NaBefore the 2008 season began, Na returned to his Diamond Bar residence from vacation and found it flooded. Then, as his campaign began, he realized he was having negative vision effects from LASIK surgery. Nevertheless, Na tied for fourth at both the Sony Open and the FBR to get a great jump on retaining his tour card and contending for the FedEx Cup.
4. Anthony KimLoaded with talent, Kim is still gaining experience in his second full season on the PGA Tour. But the former La Quinta resident had a phenomenal homecoming at this year’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, where he tied for third.
5. John MallingerMallinger grew up in Escondido and played at Long Beach State, but judging by his last two performances at Pebble Beach, you’d think he’d be from Northern California. He finished third at the AT&T event for the second-straight year by virtue of a scintillating 65 in the final round.
6. John MerrickA birdie putt on the final hole of PGA Tour Qualifying School last year allowed Merrick to retain his card, and the Long Beach native has taken advantage of the opportunity. His third-place finish at Mexico’s Mayakoba Golf Classic was the best of his career.
7. Charlie WiWi’s professional career has taken him all over the world, but the Westlake Village resident has certainly solidified his PGA Tour status this season. He racked up a trio of top-25 finishes on the West Coast Swing, including 14th place at the Northern Trust.
8. Corey PavinAt 48 years old, Pavin may never regain the form that resulted in the 1995 U.S. Open title. But the Oxnard native and UCLA graduate enjoyed a nice start to his ’08 campaign with a third-place finish at Pebble Beach and a top-12 at Mayakoba.
9. Pat PerezThe San Diego native was steady on the swing, making five of six cuts and ending up inside the top 25 twice. His consistency was enough to keep him high enough in the world rankings to qualify for the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship.
10. Fred CouplesThe La Quinta resident may never be able to return to peak form because of lingering back woes, but he still proved he can make some noise by tying for eighth at the Buick Invitational. “Boom Boom” didn’t shoot above par in any of his four rounds at Torrey Pines.
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