ESPN.com - Golf Online - PGA Championship 2000 - Tiger everywhere, even when he isn't

By David Kraft
ESPN Golf Online
Wednesday, August 16

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- How big is the shadow being cast by Tiger Woods this week?

He wasn't within 1,000 miles of Valhalla on Monday or Tuesday morning, yet he's all anybody wanted to talk about.

TIGER -- WHY AND WHY NOT

Why he'll win
Because he's supposed to. No athlete in the world today thrives more in the spotlight of major competition than Woods. And no one intimidates a field more. Starting with last year's PGA win, he's played 22 events (both Tour and non-Tour) -- and won 11 times.

"This is a major and this is a golf course that will fit his game," said Curtis Strange. "It's generous off the tee."

Why he won't
Woods doesn't know Valhalla, having played only one practice round here before this week. And all that fairway landing area on the Nicklaus-designed course allows more players to hit driver more off the tee than they did at the U.S. Open. That may turn it into a putting content, the only supposed chink in Woods' armor (never mind that he putted masterfully at the U.S. Open and British Open).

"I think this golf course lets a few more people into the field," said Loren Roberts. "A lot more people have a chance to do well here this week because of the nature of the golf course."

Woods finished 11th at the Buick Classic on Sunday in Grand Blanc, Mich., then immediately high-tailed it on his private plane back to Florida for a day of practice. By the time Woods' arrived and went to the practice tee Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. ET, the place was buzzing.

Louisville-area TV stations had reporters on "Tiger watch" for their morning broadcasts. He's on the cover of a special 64-page section of the Louisville Courier-Journal. He's on the cover of Golf Digest. He's featured in TNT's print ads promoting its TV coverage -- "Tiger vs. Everyone" it screams.

Even a sign in front of a rather downtrodden house on the street in front of Valhalla said: "Congratulations and welcome Tiger Woods -- Admiral Painting."

It's Tiger's world. The rest of the 150-man field is just renting space.

Darren Clarke was asked a dozen questions during an interview Tuesday morning. Woods' name came up in six of them.

"That is just the way the game is going," Clarke said. "If somebody is going to play as well as Tiger invariably plays every week, people are always going to watch the world's No. 1 (player). That's just part and parcel of it."

No players are immune from Tiger talk.

"It's not a foregone conclusion that he is going to win Sunday afternoon," said Curtis Strange. "He proved that last week. He can't win every week."

"It's not that frustrating," said Lee Westwood. "He is a guy that has set the new standards, and if you are frustrated, then you are never going to get up to those standards. It makes me more determined to get up to that level."

"It would be exciting for me if I can get in the last group and play head-to-head with him," said Phil Mickelson. "That would be something I would thoroughly look forward to."

Woods, for his part, remains low-key.

"This summer has been pretty good for me," he said.

The moment Woods arrived, he became the center of attention. He was hounded by autograph seekers as he headed to the practice tee. The gallery -- estimated at 25,000 on the course -- was packed around Woods and Mark O'Meara when they teed off at 11:30 a.m.

Woods' approach to the PGA is a little different than his preparations for the other three majors this year. He took the week off prior to The Masters, U.S. Open and British Open, opting to work on his game. He played last week at the Buick Open, his first action since winning the British Open on July 23.

After back-to-back rounds of 70, he shot 67 and 68 on the weekend. And don't read much into his 11th-place finish. He tied for 23rd at the Western Open in his final tuneup before the British Open.

"We don't know what Tiger was working on," Notah Begay III said at the Buick. "He might have been using that tournament to get ready for this week."

Count on it.