Who Gains Most From Tiger-less Tour?

The PGA Tour next week begins a second consecutive season without its best player.

Unlike last year, however, when Tiger Woods was rehabbing a surgically repaired knee in a hard-working push to return to competition, this season he has gone underground to hide from the backlash of a tawdry secret life.

Last year, Woods' return to the PGA Tour was charted and awaited.

Then year, when the SBS Championship -- a field of tournament winners -- tees off Jan. 7 in Kapalua, Hawaii, nobody has a clue what Woods' role will be in 2010.

"I'm a little disappointed personally," NBC golf analyst Gary Koch said. "I was really looking forward to early 2010 because of the way Phil Mickelson finished 2009, winning the Tour Championship, and playing in the final group in China with Tiger and winning.

"I'm thinking, 'Man, we are going to have some good head-to-head confrontations early in the year.' Obviously, that's not going to happen any time soon."

That leaves a void to fill. Golf needs somebody to step up and make fans pay attention.

As Koch points out, the likely candidate is Mickelson. After a season-long struggle with his putter, Lefty caught fire at the end of 2009 after working with Dave Stockton.

If Mickelson picks up where he left off, it is not unrealistic to suggest he can unseat Woods atop the World Golf Rankings.

"If Tiger sits six months, nine months, and Mickelson plays and plays well, all he's going to do it keep moving closer to No. 1, which I know he has said is a huge goal."
- Gary Koch "This gives Mickelson a great chance to enhance his name and his stature," Koch said. "If Tiger sits six months, nine months, and Mickelson plays and plays well, all he's going to do it keep moving closer to No. 1, which I know he has said is a huge goal. At some point in his career, he'd love to be the No. 1 player in the world."

Mickelson, with three majors and a total of 37 career wins, is by far the player most capable of taking advantage of Woods' absence, but the same could have been said last year and Phil struggled through most of the early season.

So if not Mickelson, who?

Well, since you asked:

1: Padraig Harrington: The 38-year-old Irishman was winless in 2009 after winning two majors the previous season, spending much of the season working on his swing.
He said changes were necessary to improve. He should be ready to prove it.

He may not be the live wire who can make fans forget about Woods, but the voice that makes you think "Lucky Charms" is definitely distinctive.

2. Sergio Garcia: The talented Spaniard who seems to always draw more attention of his ability to pout than hit golf shots, had an absolute stink-o 2009. And it may have been the best thing that ever happened to him.

Garcia, who turns 30 in January, ended last season talking about being humbled and realizing he needed to mature as both a player and person.

He sounded sincere.

Expect a break-through season as a reward. And the loud clothes and widespread notoriety part is already taken care of.

3. Anthony Kim: He's brash, talented and only 24 years old. That's a good start. The Los Angeles native won twice in 2008, and although winless last year, had a strong showing in the Presidents Cup.

That's where International team player Robert Allenby claimed Kim staggered into his hotel shortly before sunrise prior to their final-day's singles match. The fact Kim waxed Allenby in that match suggests how good the young American just might be.

Kim, with a gaudy "A.K." belt buckle as an on-course signature, would be a welcome newsmaker for a Woods-less tour.

4. Sean O'Hair: Only 27 and already with three wins, O'Hair has quietly distinguished himself as one of the tour's most-successful 20-something talents.

He came up short in the 2009 season-ending Tour Championship after leading most of the way, but strength as a ball-striker is going to provide numerous opportunities.

Maybe a little too quiet for mainstream appeal, but could be a big winner.

5: Steve Stricker: The PGA Tour could do a lot worse than having Stricker become its marquee player.

He's the ultimate Mr. Nice Guy to everyone and prone to break into tears over anything more emotional than a sunset.

He won three times last year and begins this season No. 3 on the world rankings.

6. John Daly: You know things are upside down when Daly can offer life advice to Woods and it makes sense.

All the same, the chances of Daly returning to the tour's highest level is a long shot. Still, Daly can create news quicker than anyone (still left) on tour, and with his new slimmed-down frame will be an immediate curiosity.

Even an occasional appearance by Daly on a leaderboard would provide golf with across-the-board attention.