Only three tournaments into the 2005 United States PGA season and already modern golf’s ”big three” — Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els — have proved just how far ahead of the rest of the best they are.
All three have already banked more than $1-million in earnings, with Woods at the top of the money list on $1 214 000 after his come-from-behind win on Sunday at the Buick Invitational.
It is the first time Woods has headed the US money list in 16 months.
For the 29-year-old world number two it was an end to his ”drought” on the tour. His previous tour stroke play win had been way back at the 2003 American Express Championship.
Pushing Woods is the man who took over his mantle as world number one. Singh, winner of the Sony Open almost two weeks ago, has pocketed $1 114 213.
Singh could only manage a share of 24th spot on Sunday after shooting a closing 75. It was the first time the Fijian had not finished in the top 10 since he displaced Woods as world number one last September.
Els, ranked third in the world, has yet to win this year but a third, a second and a sixth-placed finish last Sunday have swollen his bank account this year in the US to $1 018 640.
Some observers have suggested that the ”big three” should be extended to the ”big five” with the inclusion of Retief Goosen, fourth in the world, and current Masters champion Phil Mickelson, ranked fifth.
But if money is the judge, Goosen and Mickelson don’t even come close — at least so far.
Two-time US Open champion Goosen has played two out of the opening three events, finishing 13th in the Mercedes Championship season opener and 56th in the Sony Open to win $120 608, more than a million behind Woods.
Mickelson, who since his dismal performance in the Ryder Cup last autumn is looking to recover his Augusta form, decided to start his season at the Buick.
The left-hander has won his first tournament of the season five times and was keen to make that six.
But Mickelson, a previous winner of the Buick on the course where he played most of his early golf, found any such hopes dashed when he carded a third-round 78.
In the end, Mickelson finished 56th and his winnings of $10 656 will not have covered his expenses for the week.
Woods’s win on Sunday will have send a chilling reminder to Els and Singh, as well as the rest, of just how good he can be.
As the ”big three” underline their dominance, all it needs now is for Els to score an early victory and it threatens to be game, set, and match for the pretenders. — Sapa-AFP