Is a softer Tiger emerging?

Is a softer Tiger emerging?

According to golf writer Derek Lawrenson of the Daily Mail, Tiger Woods was playing the role of proud papa on Monday night at the Dunraven Arms in Adare, Ireland.

Moments after he thrashed his way around the course in an un Tiger-like 7-over par 79 at the JP McManus Pro-Am, Woods was showing off video of his 15-month old son, Charlie, swinging a golf club to his fellow pros.

"His lad's swing is quite incredible," said Ian Poulter, who was among those to get a glimpse of this other side of Tiger. "The grip, the swing, it's all incredible. Given those genes I reckon we've got about 13 years left to win majors. By the time he's 15, he will probably be winning the Masters by about 25 shots."

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Still with Woods and his two-day trip to Ireland, CBSSports.com senior sports writer Steve Elling had this little ditty on his appearance at the pro-am event in County Limerick, Ireland

"There once was a guy named Woods; as a golfer he had all the goods; then his personal life got harry; his wife wanted to unmarry; and now his game's filled with woulds, coulds and shoulds."

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The 2010 golf season is half over and what have we learned so far? Despite playing in just six events and finishing out of the top 40 in a golf tournament for the first time in five years, Tiger Woods remains the number one player in the world. He has clinched the Mark H. McCormack Award for the 13th straight season, given to the player atop the world ranking for the most weeks in a calendar year. It might be the only piece of hardware Tiger takes home this season.

Phil Mickelson has yet another chance to dethrone Tiger at number one. But you have to wonder if Phil is up for the challenge. Lefty has never been No. 1 — not in the world ranking, the money list, scoring average for the prestigious Vardon Trophy, not even on the majority of ballots for PGA Tour player of the year.

While Phil is the feel good story of the year thanks to his stirring Masters victory, that's his only victory to date. There have been three multiple winners on the PGA Tour this year — Ernie Els, Jim Furyk and Justin Rose. Each has two wins.

If anyone is in a position to wrestle PGA Player of the Year honours away from Woods it's likely Els. He has earned more world ranking points than anyone this year and he also leads the PGA Tour in the only two statistics that matter — scoring average (69.54) and money (nearly $4 million).

A year ago, Europeans only won three PGA Tour events. This year, they won three in a row in June alone — Rose at the Memorial, Lee Westwood at the St. Jude Classic, Graeme McDowell at the U.S. Open.

When it comes to top rookie, it appears to be a race between Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy. Fowler is 21, yet he turned pro only 10 months ago. He had a chance to win in Phoenix and had the 54-hole lead at the Memorial. McIlroy is 21 as well — even if it seems as though he has been around forever. His 62 in the final round to win Quail Hollow will not be forgotten anytime soon.

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Just to illustrate what type of year its been on the PGA Tour, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson have combined for one win between them (Mickelson at the Masters). There was a time when the trio would have upwards of a dozen victories under their belt.

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Chris Evert has spoken publicly for the first time since her 15-month marriage to golfer Greg Norman ended. She tells Australia's Women's Day magazine that she had "no idea" a divorce was coming. "It wasn't talked about, ever. Never in a million years did I imagine it would end up like this."

When asked if she missed Norman, Evert responded, "The best part about him are his parents."

-The Globe and Mail