I know only one-third of the season is complete. But I can't help myself. It's May and I'm a college student.

Grades are not limited to players. Some courses, tournaments, and decisions will also receive an evaluation. So without further adieu:

Tiger Woods

Golf's greatest player has lived up to his billing yet again. He leads the Tour money list and has won twice, including his third Green Jacket at Augusta last month. And don't think for a minute that he's done. Woods' ability to perform in the clutch is so far superior to anyone else on the planet that a true grand slam is a distinct possibility. He's embarrassed the best golfers in the world on multiple occasions in major championships, so don't be surprised if he does it again. (Oh, and have you seen a picture of Tiger's new girlfriend Elin Nordegren? Wow.)
Grade: A

Harbor Town

Talk about underrated. Harbor Town's unique character and charm make it a favorite stop on the PGA Tour. This year's Worldcom Classic featured elite players struggling to hit the small greens and narrow fairways. Overhanging trees and an appropriate mix of sand and water make Harbor Town six inches of rough away from becoming a contender for the U.S. Open. Can't you just see the logo with the famed light tower in the center?
Grade: A-

Final Round of The World Match Play Championship

Sure, watching Tiger fall in the first round was intriguing, but after the opening day's matches, the tournament's attraction was lost. Kevin Sutherland and Scott McCarron in the championship match? Not exactly the matchup we were hoping for. Don't get me wrong, I love this tournament. I think match play is an excellent format for creating drama and excitement in every shot taken. But this year's tournament was a flop.
Grade: D

Final Rounds for First Time Winners

Halleluiah. Jerry Kelly, Len Mattiace, and Craig Perks all have cashed gaudy winner's checks this season for the first time in their careers. All three showed tremendous courage and fight in playing their final rounds. Leading a tournament after 54 holes is one thing, but sleeping on the Saturday lead and then performing in the clutch on Sunday to capture that elusive title is something else entirely. The classy trio each closed the deal when the pressure was on. Bravo.
Grade: A+

Ty Tryon

Young Ty has the distinction of being the only person receiving a grade today that is still receiving grades for his schoolwork. Unfortunately, Ty has struggled on the links. He is 0-4 in cuts made, and now he's got mononucleosis. I can't fail him, though, because he's learning the ropes of Tour life that will hopefully help him become a star someday.
Grade: Incomplete

The Players' Championship

Golf's fifth major needs a new title. It's field is the best in golf and it's venue is among the toughest on Tour. With each year, it gains in stature and lore, and it's time to make this exceptional tournament a major championship. The true test of a major is the difficulty in winning the tournament on the last few holes. Augusta has Amen Corner. TPC at Sawgrass has the island green 17th and the brutish par four 18th that traditionally plays among the hardest holes on Tour. The PGA Championship may be considered a major, but I will always respect The Players' Champion more than the PGA Champion.
Grade: A

Augusta National Committee

An additional 285 yards now joins the rest of Augusta National thanks to its trustees who made the foolish alterations (see my earlier article "Length is Not the Issue") in hopes of keeping up with advances in technology and fitness. They succeeded, however, in making scoring more difficult, and had it not been for the rainy weather which softened the usually treacherous greens, scoring would have been even more difficult. The recent decision to ban past champions over the age of 65 really hurts their grade, however.

If there is a group of players who deserve to compete in the arguably the most revered golf tournament in the world, it's those past champions who have conquered Augusta before. Sure, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus don't have any chance at truly competing at The Masters, but part of the fame and mystique of the tournament is the presence of these players. I don't care if Nicklaus struggles to break 90, I want to see him at Amen Corner.
Grade: C-

Retief Goosen

We know now that the 2001 U.S. Open was anything but a fluke. Retief has exhibited his remarkable ability by winning on three different continents this season, including a win at the BellSouth Classic where he showed an uncanny ability to play steady golf under pressure. It even looked as if he would add a Green Jacket to his collection after 54 holes of brilliant golf. A pressure-packed Sunday with some guy named Eldrick cooled him off, however, and he could manage only a second-place finish. Still, Retief is for real, and he's ready to prove it next month when he defends his U.S. Open title.
Grade: A-

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