The other guy lost in the wonderful world of Woods is Vijay Singh, who will also be a Torrey Pines. He comes into 2008 with 31 career PGA Tour victories, including three majors. Most remarkably, he has won 19 times after his 40th birthday, shattering the record of 16 held by Snead. Woods, Mickelson and Singh make a pretty good version of this generation's Big Three.
There have been four Big Threes in the history of men's golf. The first consisted of Harry Vardon, James Braid and J.H. Taylor and, being British, they had the much more classy handle of "The Great Triumvirate". From 1894 through 1914 -- when World, War I got in the way -- they combined to win 16 of 21 British Opens.
Next came Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson, who were born within six months of each other in 1912 and combined to win a phenomenal 198 tour events, including 21 majors.
Nicklaus, Palmer and Player combined to win 159 PGA Tour events and a startling 34 majors -- 18 by Jack.
While Woods, Mickelson and Singh have a very comparable 124 tour victories, especially considering that at the ages of 32 and 37 Woods and Mickelson are likely to add many more, and even Singh, who turns 45 Feb, 22, will likely pick up a couple more. This current Big Three has combined to win 19 majors -- Woods having 13 with Mickelson and Singh each with three. That's 15 short of the Nicklaus-Palmer-Player total.
Here's what Mickelson needs to do to get his due despite eating Tiger's dust for the last decade plus: Win a major in a head-to-head duel with Woods. Only five times in the 44 majors played since Woods turned pro have he and Mickelson both finished in the top three. Yet to occur is a stirring one-on-one confrontation in the final group on Sunday. Maybe this week's Buick Invitational will be a prelude to what will happen at Torrey Pines in the U.S. Open. Tiger and lefty are back. Let's get ready to rumble.
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