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Today's category from the Old Course and the 134th British Open is ... Things That Are Dead:

There's no such thing any longer. They are going ... going ... gone. We're back to where we started in 2000 with the Big One, Tiger Woods. That should be obvious after Woods has gone first, second and first in this year's three major championships. His shot-making has gotten progressively better all year, just as he said it was, and you saw the result Sunday at the Old Course when he pulled away on the final nine to win the British Open, again, in a cakewalk.

Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els never came in from the bullpen (they finished 60th and 34th, respectively) and Vijay Singh, for want of a few putts, wasn't able to get within striking distance. Retief Goosen suddenly has trouble on days that begin with the letters S-U-N. Meanwhile, Tiger has stepped up in class.

There's no argument now about the results that Woods is getting with the input that Hank Haney helped him create. Tiger's swing under Butch Harmon looked textbook perfect. Under Haney, it looks different but clearly, after all their work, it's just as efficient. In victory, his second Open title at St. Andrews, Woods said he's been asked why he would change his swing. "First, second and first in three majors, that's why," he said.

It was a good soundbite, but the reality was that unlike in 1997, when he felt his swing wasn't good enough, these changes were brought on by poor play. He changed his swing this time out of necessity, not by choice. Not that it matters.

He has arrived here anyway.

The Old Course is Tiger's Augusta National in Scotland. It favors a long hitter and a ball-striker and, in conditions last week that were about as calm as it ever gets on the Firth of Forth, the putters.

Said Tom Watson, five-time British Open champ: "The great putters are shining this week. Tiger putted very, very well. Colin [Montgomerie] putted very, very well. Ollie [ Jose Maria Olazabal] putted very, very well. Look at Brad Faxon, he's maybe the best putter on tour and he was right in there. When you play St. Andrews and there is not a lot of wind, the putter is the one stick that is going to win the tournament."

St. Andrews is not the Auld Grey Toon anymore. From now on, it's Tiger Toon.

Woods is pulling away from Vijay Singh at a rapid clip. Everybody else has already fallen over the railing of the Titanic in this non-race.