Germany's MartinKaymerwonthe PGAChampionshiplast year. South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen won the British Open. And South African Charl Schwartzel won the Masters in April.
As the U.S. economy fattened on the strength of an illusory real-estate boom, Woods was ascendant on the golf course and seemingly off of it too a fourth Masters in 2005, wins at the PGAChampionship and the British Open in 2006, a fourth PGAChampionship in 2007 and a third U.S. Open in 2008, plus a beautiful wife and a baby girl.
The BMW International Open kicks off a series of lucrative events that includes the British Open, the PGAChampionship and runs through the Ryder Cup 19-21 September.