When Tiger's in the hunt, all others seem to shrink

	Jose Maria Olazabal is the latest golfer to misfire when squaring off against Tiger. Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Uh oh ...

If the Buick Invitational is any indication, players on the PGA Tour must be mighty worried over their chances to derail the Tiger Woods bullet train.

On one hand, Woods' victory in his first start of 2006 expands the sport's popularity and keeps it firmly on the front page. Networks love that golf audiences grow like backyard weeds when Woods is lurking or demolishing his fellow competitors. And you'll never endure CBS pulling the plug during a playoff when El Tigre is playing, since only he can trump the network's beloved 60 Minutes.

Yet, it's also curious that Woods can skank it around the course and still steal a victory from a first-page leaderboard of Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal or a Cinderella Man of the week like Nathan Green.

Is Tiger's mere presence still that unsettling to opponents?

Even Woods said, "I shouldn't have even been in playoff," essentially wondering why no other player rose to the occasion. My sentiments exactly.

Woods is now 12-1 in playoffs. He collected his 10th victory in California and fourth opening-season win. After earning 46 trophies in his 20s, he's 1 for 1 as a 30-something. Tiger Woods is simply a freak of talent in a sport that chews up the world's best pros on a weekly basis.

Sunday's final round certainly had all the trappings of a fine dramatic finish. Garcia, who some believe will grab his first major this season, was tied for the lead and looking fairly golden as his worrisome putting took a week off (he finished second in total putts). Unfortunately, his formidable ball-striking went AWOL in crunch time. He hit into five bunkers and a beer tent on the front nine, going out in 40. A three-putt on 18 gave him a 75. Co-leader Rod Pampling shot a 76.

So much for Carpe Diem.

Mickelson began the day T-5. The two-time Buick Open winner and San Diego resident is as familiar with Torrey Pines as Woods. However, three missed putts inside six feet dissolved any meaningful momentum on the back nine. Also, is it just me or does Phil appear a tad larger than the 2005 model? With all that time off, you figure he'd have introduced himself to a treadmill or spin class.

Olazabal, whose last win was the 2002 Buick Invitational, provided strong competition. The veteran's short-game wizardry is still astounding, but his putting prowess leaves at opportune moments. Last year he had an excellent chance to take the Bell South but missed consecutive 5-foot birdie putts and rinsed two shots on the third playoff hole, allowing Mickelson to win.

On Sunday, Olazabal wasted a terrific blast from a short-sided bunker by pulling the 4-foot par putt, leaving Woods to slowly bow his head in sympathy.

Olazabal said, "It doesn't matter who beats you. Obviously he (Woods) is No. 1, but it upsets you the same way."