Four!

It's not the same course now. Rees Jones redid it in 1990.

Right. And the members all say it plays 500 yards longer now. Remember, whenever I say the word longer, Tiger is thinking, Better for me. I figure Tiger swings driver on as many as 10 holes—4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

Have you ever heard the phrase Open rough? The rough at Congressional is going to he as long and nasty as the Paula Jones trial. This is the same twig of a kid who practically snapped off his wrist in the rough at Shinnecock and withdrew.

No problem. On the other holes, he hits his one-iron, which only goes 265 right down the sprinklers. He won three USGA titles—the 1993 Junior at Waverly in Portland; the '92 Junior at Wollaston in Milton, Mass.; and his third Amateur at Pumpkin Ridge near Portland last year—by hitting almost nothing but one-irons. It's like his dad always told him, "Tiger, the one-iron is your friend."

Then, in July, Tiger goes to Troon for the British, which is nothing but wind and bump-and-runs and sheep—not exactly what he grew up with in Orange County. Do you remember the 81 he shot on the first round of the Scottish Open at Carnoustie last year? I mean, Colin Montgomerie's dad, James, is the secretary at Troon! You don't think Colin, the sixth-ranked player in the world, might feel pretty cozy at his home crib?

Maybe, but first, Montgomerie has missed the cut at four of the last five British Opens; second, Tiger was 68th in his first British two years ago and 22nd last year, and we know from the Masters that he's a quick study: third, Tiger won his second Amateur at Newport Country Club, up in Rhode Island, which is as linksy as haggis; four, Troon now has a watering system, so the course will be much more lush and will play longer, which is just plain valet service for Tiger; and fifth, Tiger's swing coach, Butch Harmon, thinks Tiger can win there because, with his length, he could conceivably be putting for eagle on four of the first six holes, which are all downwind. As for playing into a headwind, Harmon says Tiger is the best in the world because of "the way his ball just tears through the wind."

Gee. Imagine that, Butch thinking Tiger would win. What did you think he'd say, "I figure the kid'll blow like a bagpiper and catch the first Concorde home on Saturday morning?"

Cynic.

Then, in August, Tiger goes to Winged Foot outside of New York City for the PGA, which is trickier than three-card monte. It's the ultimate local-knowledge track, and he's never played it.

You're right. That's a terrible disadvantage. Except for the fact that Harmon grew up at Winged Foot as the son of the longtime pro there, Claude Harmon. You think Butch might be willing to share a few secrets? They're already working on it. Winged Foot is known for some of the deepest bunkers in the world, so lately Butch has been putting Tiger in a bunker, standing on the green right in front of him, holding a bunker rake as high as he can and saying, "Hit it over the rake." Tiger goes, "You're kidding me." And Butch just laughs.