This Week at WorldGolf.com: Feb. 7, 2008

Mickelson and Els: A tale of two also-rans battling for second place behind Tiger

This whole issue about guts in golf is an interesting one. When Phil Mickelson lost the FBR Open in a sudden-death playoff this past weekend, and Tiger Woods rallied to win the Dubai Desert Classic, I wrote that the difference between Woods and Mickelson was mental strength - guts, if you will.

One reader wrote in, saying it was Woods' sheer physical abilities, not guts, are the difference between the best golfer on the planet and the man many say is second best.

Another wrote saying Ernie Els' fear of Woods was the factor in Woods' win, when he spotted Els a four-stroke lead with nine holes to play, then rallied with a Sunday 65 for the win.

Isn't that the same thing?

Golf is a game that naturally and insidiously exploits fear and doubt, among its millions of everyday practitioners, and especially in the pressure-packed, competitive arena.

I've seen fear in Woods' eyes in big tournaments. The difference is he can overcome it, or at least deal with it.

To date, no other challenger to Woods has been able to do that. Throughout the game's history, its champions have almost always had legitimate rivals pushing them. Woods has only himself and the record book.

For a while, after Mickelson's wacky antics indicated he would almost surely never challenge Woods' stranglehold on the top world ranking, I thought Els was one of a small, very exclusive coterie of pros who might overcome the Woods intimidation factor.

I'm not sure after this weekend. Losing a four-stroke lead with nine holes left to the man you hope to challenge for world supremacy had to be extraordinarily deflating to the big South African.

Woods has now won the last five events he's played and seven of his last eight. You have to wonder if the way he's playing now makes the rest of the field, think, "Why bother? Let's play for second place." Does anyone out there have the guts to challenge this guy?

Mickelson can at least find some positives in his slim loss at TPC Scottsdale. After all, he charged back from four strokes down Sunday, and remember, it was only a couple of weeks ago he could barely breathe.

It will be interesting to see how Els can bounce back.

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Cable Beach Golf Club: An afternoon delight where real people golf in Nassau

Golfers looking for at least a smidgen of authentic travel experience in the Bahamas should play Cable Beach Golf Club. Authenticity and excellent green fees make Cable Beach a sure bet for a good round of golf in Nassau, Chris Baldwin writes.

Photo gallery: Cable Beach Golf Club in the Bahamas

Tip: Making the perfect short chip shot

PGA Professional Joe Beck describes how to maneuver high grass with the correct ball position, stance, and angle of your club shaft to make the perfect short chip shot.

Also: Rick Smith on how to turn your slick into a draw

Schmidt and Curley make the grade at Siena Golf Club in Las Vegas

They say the devil's greatest trick was convincing the world he didn't exist. In golf, the equivalent might be a master-planned community where players don't recall there were homes around the course. Such is the case at Siena Golf Club, Mike Bailey writes.

Also: Las Vegas golf vacation package picks