There are numbskulls out there who embraced Tiger Woods being out for the season. Finally, we'll get to watch other golfers on TV, this group's mantra went.

These are the types who thought an HBO series about John Adams was a good idea and never believed they'd have to worry about how much it'd cost to fill up that Hummer. Find someone who built a Y2K bunker back in the day and you'll find a golf's-better-with-no-Tiger man.

The U.S. Women's Open - the first major played, men's or women's, since the sidelining of Tiger - gave a great illustration of what golf is without the one who changed everything in the sport.

The game turns into a contest of who falls over their own feet the least. Ever see two drunks in an Arkansas bar try to argue Ancient Greek philosophy? That's your Sunday finale on the fairways. Tournaments that have been good for three days melt into jittery tumbles of nerves. Thank heavens Annika Sorenstam bounced in that miracle, meaningless eagle from 199 yards out on the U.S. Women's Open's last day or the good people of Minnesota would have been right to ask for their money back (even those who got in for free).

Paula Creamer hiding in that trailer bathroom after a double bogey may be compelling human drama, but it's hard to translate that into TV. Bob, do we have the bathroom microphone?

A few of these finishes a year are fine. Yes, Tiger obviously wouldn't have been at Interlachen Country Club anyway (though the USGA would surely change that little gender rule in the U.S. Women's Open if it could be guaranteed Woods for four more days).

It's the beckoning endless string of these lurches to the trophy ceremony that makes the prospect of the rest of this summer so horrifying, though. Is the British Open going to give us another Sergio Garcia-like collapse, allowing a bloke from Ireland who's never winning another major to get the sheep herders in a tizzy.

Just think of what the U.S. Open would have been like sans Tiger. Sure Rocco Mediate winning it would be a nice story, an Inbee Park story on the other side of the age spectrum, but would anyone remember it if Rocco beat Lee Westwood by a stroke using his conservative lay-up-on-the-18th strategy?

Tiger birdieing 18 on consecutive days to stay alive made the tournament.

He gives us golf where it's about who makes the shot at the end, not who doesn't double yip. Shame on those fools delighting in being robbed even six months of that precious gift.

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

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