A 2 1/2-minute golf guide: well, lookee here--our Sundays have been freed up just in time for the 2006 season ... which, uh, started two months ago.(KNOW IT ALL)

The Big Five, the Big Three or the Very Big One?

Despite spells of inconsistent play, Tiger Woods is in position to reassert his dominance. Knee surgery sidelined Ernie Els late in 2005 and dropped him to fifth in the world rankings. Poor final-round performances, starting with last year's collapse in the U.S. Open, have eroded Retief Goosen's aura of rock-steadiness. Phil Mickelson played himself out of contention in his first three 2006 appearances. Vijay Singh just turned 43, and his putting continues to deteriorate. That leaves Woods, golf's consummate scrambler, alone at the top.

Tiger owns the majors

Odds are Woods will win his third career Grand Slam before any of his rivals wins a first, even though Tiger needs another U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship to accomplish the feat. Woods will be a clear favorite at The Masters, as usual. For the first time since 1967, the British Open returns to Hoylake (Royal Liverpool), site of Bobby Jones' victory during the 1930 Grand Slam, and Woods thrives at historic venues.

Remember the battle between Woods and Sergio Garcia in the final round of the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah? It's high time for a rematch--and past time for Garcia to he part of the drama on a major's closing holes. But this might not be the year for Woods' third U.S. Open title; the tall rough and the trees at Winged Foot will take their toll when his driver goes haywire.

Business meets pleasure at the Ryder Cup

Putting a U.S. team together is not unlike forging a complicated merger. That's the task captain Tom Lehman will face before the 12 corporations playing for the United States meet the 12 drinking buddies playing for Europe at Ireland's K Club in September. Two suggestions for Lehman: 1) Pair Woods with Jim Furyk as often as possible, based on their effectiveness in last year's Presidents Cup; 2) for the sake of team chemistry, use a captain's pick on Fred Couples if he doesn't qualify on points.