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Woods still hasn't been a runner-up

The comparisons keep flying, but one place where Tiger Woods is not keeping pace with Jack Nicklaus is in the category of runner-up finishes in major championships. Woods has not finished second in a major; Nicklaus did 19 times.

It is remarkable, really, that Woods has yet to be No. 2. Eight times, he has held or shared the lead in a major through 54 holes, and eight times he has won, including Sunday at the U.S. Open.

One day, he'll lose such a lead. Won't he?

"Quite honestly, nobody has really thrown a good round at him in the last round of a major," Greg Norman said. "No one's ever challenged him. Stepped up to the plate. Nobody's shot a 65 or 64 at him. He's gone out and shot under par without a whole lot of pressure.

"You'd expect somebody to come firing at your left, right and center where you're one back or one in front with three holes to go, and the guy's in the clubhouse. It's a totally different ball of wax when you've got total control and a five-shot lead or a three-shot lead. It makes your game a lot easier."

In three of Woods' major-championship victories -- the 1997 Masters, the 2000 U.S. Open and the 2000 British Open -- it was a moot point. His lead was so significant through three rounds, a low score by a competitor would have barely scared him.

But other than the 2000 PGA, where Bob May shot a final-round 66 to tie Woods before losing in a playoff, Norman has a point.

When Woods won the 1999 PGA, he shot a final-round 72 at Medinah. Mike Weir, who was tied entering the final round, shot 80. Sergio Garcia shot 71 to finish one back. Only two players among the top 15 finishers broke 70.

At the 2001 Masters, Woods led Phil Mickelson by one stroke through three rounds. Chris DiMarco and Mark Calcavecchia were two back, with David Duval three behind. It's hard to fault Duval. He shot 5-under 67. Woods shot 68 to win by two. Mickelson had 70, Calcavecchia had 72 and DiMarco 74.

This year's Masters might have been the best example of all. Woods was tied with Retief Goosen heading into the final round, just two ahead of Vijay Singh and four ahead of Ernie Els, Mickelson and Garcia. Woods shot 71, as did Mickelson. No one among the top 13 players broke 70.

Again Sunday, Mickelson's 70 was the best score among the 17 players who began the round pursuing Woods. He trailed by five and lost by three.

Now consider Nicklaus: He lost a playoff at the 1971 U.S. Open to Lee Trevino, was beaten by Trevino again at the 1972 British Open, shot 66 in the final round of the 1977 British Open and lost to Tom Watson, who shot 65. He won 18 majors, but how many more could he have won?

One day, Woods will have a bad back nine or an ill-timed three-putt or be beaten by an incredible bunker shot or final-day comeback in a major. Won't he?

SIXTH TIME THE CHARM: Tampa's Doug LaCrosse made it into this week's Greater Baltimore Classic on the Senior PGA Tour by shooting 68 in a Monday qualifier.

LaCrosse, 50, a longtime amateur who turned pro late last year, was one of three qualifiers out of a field of 77. It is his sixth attempt at Monday qualifying and the first time he has advanced. He'll tee off Friday at 12:40 p.m.

"What a big thrill," LaCrosse said. "It's everything it's cracked up to be, plus more. I'd just like to do as well as I can, not get too uptight about it and enjoy it."

WARBURG CUP: Nick Faldo doesn't seem ready for such a competition, a team event pitting U.S. players 40 and older against an International squad. Faldo, 45, just tied for fifth at the U.S. Open.

Faldo joins Sam Torrance, captain of the European Ryder Cup team, for the Internationals. U.S. team members announced so far are Raymond Floyd, Mark O'Meara and U.S. Ryder Cup team captain Curtis Strange. The remaining players, 12 on each side, will be announced later.

The U.S. Warburg Cup is a Ryder Cup-style format that features six players ages 40-49 and six players 50 and older on each team. It will be played Nov. 15-17 at Sea Island, Ga.

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