Comparing the dominant eras of Tiger and Hale Irwin

	Just 31 years old, Tiger Woods has already taken home 12 major championships. AP
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What have we learned so far in 2007? A few things.

• The golf season seems unofficial until Tiger Woods tees it up. Which will happen this week.

• Paul Goydos and Charley Hoffman might be on the U.S. Presidents Cup team this year. Anybody see that coming?

• The Golf Channel is physically unable to go 30 minutes without mentioning the FedEx Cup. Actually, you did see that coming.

• Vijay Singh will be a force to be reckoned with. Michelle Wie is in a slump, golf-wise, quote-wise and public relations-wise.

• Tadd Fujikawa is now the most exciting Hawaiian player.

• The Golf Channel's Win Zone stat (not to be confused with Britney Spears) makes no sense and has no basis in reality.

• John Daly, though not exempt, will still play just as often as he pleases. The record for most sponsors' exemptions accepted could be in jeopardy in 2007.

• Hale Irwin isn't ready to give up his throne as king of the Champions Tour.

That last item may prove to be the most significant revelation. Irwin turned 61 last summer, didn't win a senior tournament for the first time since he broke into the tour in 1995, didn't win more than $1 million for the first time as a senior and had only one top-three finish, a second place. It looked like his long, ruthless reign on the Champions Tour was over and that time had finally caught up to him.

Then the 2007 season began -- quietly, since the seniors are hidden on the little-seen Golf Channel and Sunday night were up against the Colts-Patriots AFC Championship playoff game. Irwin fired a 62 on Saturday, took a three-stroke lead into the final round and went on to win the MasterCard Championship at Hualalai by five shots and, ho hum, return to dynasty mode.

How dominating has he been on the Champions Tour? His record total of 45 senior wins blows away Lee Trevino, who ranks second with 29. No one else has more than 25. It's apples and tangerines, of course, but who has been more dominant on his respective tour -- Irwin or Tiger?

They arrived about the same time. Woods turned pro in August 1996. Irwin began playing on the senior circuit in 1995. There's no comparison between the depth of talent on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. The competition is tougher on the PGA Tour because there's more of it and the fields are much bigger. Most senior fields are limited to 78 gravy-trainers. Your knee-jerk answer to the who's-more-dominant question is Woods, of course. But don't be so sure. It's a close race.