The new Tiger Woods has toned it down, reined it in, shortened it up and controlled it within. Nearing his third anniversary on the PGA Tour, he has become a control freak. The new Tiger has tamed the wild. Now that Woods' new swing has kicked in, his competency has reached a higher level. Though Tigermania has lost considerable purr since its intense zenith of 1996-97, Woods himself has evolved into a more consistently dangerous threat.
Recent results represent the progress.
David Duval, your volley. Woods' Western dominance, his third Tour triumph of the year, vaulted him past Duval and again onto the world ranking's highest perch. More important, it helped confirm Woods' game is now much more equipped to handle the three summer majors, the ones with rough higher than fringe length. Well, that's no longer the case. It follows that Woods heads to Carnoustie, Scotland, and the British Open as a favorite.