It's all in the name for Tiger

Larry Fine

What's in a name? Take the moniker of the world's most famous sportsman, Tiger Woods.

For golf tournaments, like this week's Byron Nelson Classic which marks Woods's first appearance in four weeks since winning the Masters, it means a major boost in attendance and a guaranteed spike in television ratings.

For competitors, it means nervous glances at scoreboards to check on whether the 25-year-old is running away from the field.

For sponsors, it means a marketing bonanza -- whether you're talking cars, golf balls, or video games -- even after lavishing multi-millions on the charismatic champion.

For Anthony Lemar Taylor, taking the name of Eldrick T. Woods -- the golfer's full name -- meant a 200-year prison sentence.

Taylor used a phony Eldrick T. Woods driver's license and fake credit card to go on a shopping spree in Sacramento, California, buying more than $17,000 worth of merchandise -- a big-screen television, stereo equipment, and bedroom and dining room furniture.

They threw the book at Taylor, make that the Encyclopedia Britannica, under California's "three strikes" provision for criminals following a third conviction.

Taylor is appealing the harsh sentencing, but for the men who want to claim Wood's title as world's best golfer, there is no such recourse.

CHALLENGERS WILT

Thus far, none of the other leading lights of the world rankings list have lived up to their billing and taken on the role of serious challenger to the supremacy of Woods.

World number two Phil Mickelson came up flat in the back nine at Augusta, number three Ernie Els had a string of distant runner-up finishes to Woods in 2000's big events, and David Duval failed to sink critical putts down the stretch at the Masters and came up short there for a third time.

And so the great rivalry that golf -- and the public -- longs for is still wanting.

PRODIGY BLOOMS

Woods is the only player to win three U.S. Junior titles in a row, the only player to win three U.S. Amateurs in a row, the youngest to win the Masters, the youngest (and only fifth all-time) to complete a career Grand Slam and the only player ever to win the four major professional championships in a row following his triumph at last month's Masters.

For all his grand accomplishments the 21st Century Master is still just 25 years old.

For all his extraordinary poise on the golf course, he is excited enough about virtual golf video games to spend part of his spring break from golf dressed in a futuristic, skintight jump suit to perform for special cameras capturing his golf motion for "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002."

For all his obvious physical gifts as a golfer, two of the golf's grandest names insist the key to his dazzling success is not just his prodigious talent.

HARD WORK

Byron Nelson, the only golfer to have a current PGA Tour event named after him, and winner of 11 tournaments in a row in 1945 and 18 in all that magical season, says Woods is the greatest golfer of all time.

The 89-year-old says Woods works harder on his game than any other player in golf; harder than anyone he has ever seen, and remember, Nelson began his days in golf as a caddy at the same time and at the same Texas club as legendary golf workaholic Ben Hogan.

Sam Snead, 88, winner of a PGA Tour record 81 events, also tabs Tiger as the greatest player of all time.

Snead, while hosting the tour's annual stop at Greensboro, said Woods wins so much because he works so hard to keep in better physical shape than his rivals.

Woods is getting back to serious business at the TPC at Las Colinas starting on Thursday looking to win his fourth tournament in a row after ending a brief early season victory drought with successive wins at Bay Hill, The Players Championship and the Masters.

Needless to say, Woods, who in his first visit to the Masters as an amateur in 1995 stunned reporters by saying he would not be playing unless he thought he had a chance of winning, is out to win at the Nelson.

But his overriding goal is to prepare himself for the next major on the calendar -- June's U.S. Open at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma -- where he will try to win a fifth major in a row.

You see, winning majors is the name of the game for Woods.

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