Recapping the most overlooked stories of the year

	Rocco Mediate was contending at the Masters before fading on the back nine Sunday. Bob Martin/SI

You're digging yourself out from under an avalanche of year-in-review stories that remind you of the obvious -- that Tiger Woods dominated, Phil Mickelson unraveled and the Americans sucked wind in the Ryder Cup.

So take a hike, buddy, on a path less traveled and examine the 13 most overlooked events in golf during 2006, The Year That Was:

1. Tiger Woods had a winning record in the Ryder Cup.

Enough about his record in team match play, already. He was 3-2 at the K Club and his partner for four matches, Jim Furyk, didn't play typical Jim Furyk golf. Tiger is not the reason the U.S. hasn't been competitive in the last two Ryder Cups. (Personally, I blame Al Davis -- but that's another story.)

2. Annika Sorenstam was knocked off her pedestal -- two pedestals, actually.

She is no longer the best player in women's golf. That title was swiped by Mexico's Lorena Ochoa, who was named the Associated Press' Female Athlete of the Year. Sorenstam won three times, including the U.S. Women's Open, but after 48 victories in the previous six seasons, that almost seems like a slump. Annika isn't the biggest name in women's golf anymore, either. The media and the public have become preoccupied with high schooler Michelle Wie, who is way more visible than Sorenstam thanks to her penchant for missing cuts in men's tournaments.

3. Forgotten in the wake of the Mickelson-Fred Couples love-in during the final round in Augusta is the fact that Rocco Mediate had a chance to win the Masters.

A solid ball striker who has battled repeated back injuries and putting woes, Mediate was tied for the lead in the final round when his approach shot at the ninth green clanged off the flagstick. His run ended when he rinsed three balls on the par-3 12th hole (because his bad back had frozen up) and made a 10. He didn't get much airtime because CBS couldn't pull itself away from Freddie and Phil. Imagine, a guy in the green jacket named Rocco. That never even happened on The Sopranos.

4. Hale Irwin didn't win on the Champions Tour in 2006.

I'm checking to see whether death and taxes have also been suddenly revoked.

5. In a considerable upset, 2006 was the year that Jack Nicklaus retired and stayed retired.

Oh, he teed it up for fun in the Father-Son Challenge and he made an appearance at halftime during an Ohio State football game, but a tip of the cap to Jack for staying away from competitive golf.

6. Golf is done on ESPN (and ABC, too, except for the British Open).

If you don't think that's a big deal, you don't realize how much ESPN rules the sports broadcasting world. ESPN's on-site coverage and preview work at the majors with Andy North and Scott Van Pelt will be sorely missed. What could be worse with a self-promoting network like ESPN is that PGA Tour highlights may get even less play on SportsCenter now that the network doesn't have any golf broadcasts to shill. And good luck to the diehard golf fan who walks into a crowded sports bar and asks, "Does anybody mind if I put The Golf Channel on?"