"It’s the first time Woods has been ranked behind someone younger than him."

/

Doug Ferguson offers one noteworthy observation for an otherwise minor story: Tiger's drop to No. 3 in the world ranking.

What’s more noteworthy about the world ranking, however, is it’s the first time Woods has been ranked behind someone younger than him. He turned 35 over the holidays.

Woods has known this day was coming, even when his game appeared untouchable. In time, there would be a player – or players, in this case – younger than him and not as intimidated.

Sure, there was a brief challenge from Sergio Garcia. Adam Scott reached as high as No. 3, and Paul Casey did the same a year later.

Now, the youth brigade is coming in bunches.

Ahead of him in the ranking is Kaymer, the 26-year-old German who won the PGA Championship last year to become the youngest major champion since Woods.

Tiger Picks The South Over The North

/

At least, that's what Ed Zieralski is reporting in trying to figure out why Tiger's 11 a.m. North Course tee time was changed to the South.

Woods was scheduled to play the North Course at 11 a.m. in the Pro-Am, but has been switched to the South Course.

Word at the tournament was that Woods was very unhappy with his 11 a.m. tee time and the fact he was playing the North Course in the Pro-Am. Tournament officials switched him to the South, moving Charlie Wi to the North. Tee times are given out based on money earned the previous year. Woods finished 68th on the PGA Tour money list in 2010.

And in case you were (most likely) wondering, Mark Soltau explains why Tiger is no longer getting the first spot out in the pro-am.

Kaymer Passes Woods In World Ranking; That Should Kill At Least 10 Minutes During This Week's Tiger Presser

/

Not to go all Caroline Wozniacki on you here, but I'll be sitting in on Tiger's Wednesday presser at Torrey Pines and you can already envision the opening moments after getting passed by HSBC winner Martin Kaymer.

Q: Tiger, Martin Kaymer has just passed you in the World Rankings and you are No. 3, he is No. 2. Does this inspire you to play better?

TW: I'm really happy for MarKay, he's a great guy and has worked really hard to get to this point. What was the second part?

Q: Does this inspire you to play better?

TW: I have plenty to inspire me to play better.

Q: Tiger, the last time you were here it was you, Rocco, the U.S. Open and 25,000 screaming San Diegans. Does dropping to No. 3 in the world put a cast on what should be an otherwise emotional homecoming, of sorts?

TW: Not really, Seany and I have been working hard on some great things and I'm eager to get out there and test them out.

Q: Tiger, how's the Achilles since the cortisone shot and has it been aching more since you dropped from No. 2 to No. 3?

TW: My Achilles has won 14 majors. (Smiles) (Laughter for joke that wasn't really very funny).

"It’s more difficult today, Weiskopf believes, for Woods or any skilled player to separate himself."

/
Randall Mell talks to Tom Weiskopf about "mystique" and the likelihood that Tiger has lost his after the last year's worth of news. But he also makes an interesting point about technology that in some ways speaks to just how dominant Tiger has been and, as some of us believe, how modern equipment has made his competition better.
Read More

Steiny Still Trying To Get Tiger To Commit Early, To No Avail!

/

From Tod Leonard's update on the Farmers Insurance Open field at Torrey Pines in three weeks:

Tom Wilson, tournament director and executive director of the Century Club, said six-time tournament champion Tiger Woods has not committed, but the expectation remains that Woods will be here for the first time in three years.

"I talked to Mark Steinberg (Woods' agent) last week, and he said unless something disastrous happens he feels Tiger will be here," Wilson said. "He's trying to get Tiger to commit earlier, as he did for some tournaments last year. What earlier means, I'm not sure. I hope it's sometime in the next week or two."