When Tiger Woods committed to the Buick Open last Friday he returned the tournament to a relevant position on the PGA Tour schedule for the first time since 2006, the last time he participated in the event.
Just when it appeared that what will most certainly be the final edition of the Buick Open as we now know it was headed back to obscurity, if Tiger missed the cut or failed to contend, our hero saved the day, scorching Warwick Hills to the tune of 9-under-par to vault himself onto the leaderboard.
"Rare is the golfer who can go to T4 from T95 overnight," posted one writer on Twitter. "Tiger is more talented yet more inconsistent than ever."
Local businesses, especially restaurant and hotel owners, and tournament organizers who were holding their breath as Tiger bumbled his way around a course that was as vulnerable as a recently single college girl on spring break on Thursday, can finally exhale after Tiger put himself into position to collect PGA Tour victory No. 69 on Sunday.
Strangely enough the "B-list" nature of this event could turn out to be a blessing for television audiences. Even though the Buick Open boasts a much weaker field than next week's Bridgestone Invitational and the upcoming PGA Championship, the David vs. Goliath dynamic that could present itself this weekend has me intrigued. Take a look at the names in the top 10 at the moment: Michael Letzig, Vaughn Taylor, Kevin Stadler, Roland Thatcher, Steve Lowery, Troy Matteson, Mark Brooks, Charles Warren, Leif Olson and John Senden. It's like taking a look at the Indianapolis Colts starting 11 during Week 17 during the majority of this decade.
We've never really had that Tiger vs. Phil moment we all crave so desperately. Instead, we've been treated to Bob May vs. Tiger and Tiger vs. Rich Beem, and of course the match-up with Rocco, which while unexpected and not as sexy, have been the most entertaining head-to-head battles of Red Winning Shirt's career. I'm already pining for a Tiger vs. Leif Olson showdown.