Charley Hoffman (-22) dropped 11 birdies on Monday to win the TPC Boston Deutsche Bank Championship, completing a 9-under 62 that was the best finish since the tournaments inception in 2003. 

As he rocketed up the leader board, his future in golf also began to take shape. He moved up 57 spots in the FedEx Standings to No. 2, and qualified for all four majors in 2011. 

Talk about a career day. It's not often in golf so much changes for a player in one tournament - especially a non-major - but job security will not be a problem for Hoffman, at least not in 2011. 

After so much went right in one day, though, Hoffman wanted more: 

"The best perk, hopefully, will be a Ryder Cup berth," Hoffman said. Unfortunately for Hoffman, if there's any sympathy to feel bad for him after having such a special day, he didn't quite make the Ryder Cup cut as captain Corey Pavin chose Tiger Woods, Stewart Cink, Rickie Fowler and Zach Johnson as his captain picks Tuesday. 

Needless to say, Hoffman probably made Pavin re-think his final choices before announcing them Tuesday. Had he made the team, he may have exploded with an overindulgence of good flooding his life. 

Perhaps Pavin did him a favor. 

Top 5
1. Charley Hoffman, -22
T2. Luke Donald, -17
T2. Jason Day, -17
T2. Geoff Ogilvy, -17
T5. Brandt Snedeker, -16
T5. Tom Gillis, -16

Power Couple
T11. Tiger Woods, -10
T25. Phil Mickelson, -7

Full Leaderboard

Here are the Top 20 points leaders in The FedEx Cup through The Barclays. 

1. Matt Kuchar 3,937
2. Steve Stricker 2,572
3. Martin Laird 1,977
4. Justin Rose 1,860
5. Ernie Els 1,851
6. Dustin Johnson 1,737
7. Hunter Mahan 1,718
8. Jim Furyk 1,691
9. Bubba Watson 1,688
10. Phil Mickelson 1,629
11. Ben Crane 1,607
12. Jeff Overton 1,604
13. Ryan Palmer 1,553
14. Jason Day 1,469
15. Zach Johnson 1,429
16. Tim Clark 1,409
17. Luke Donald 1,356
18. Kevin Streelman 1,335
19. Adam Scott 1,315
20. Retief Goosen 1,306

I have stated previously I believe Tiger Woods was basically finished and he wouldn’t win again. His recent struggles have done nothing but strengthen that position.

However it appears the bell has gone off and he has realized a change was necessary. Enter Sean Foley into the picture. A new teacher, with new thoughts, new ideas, is exactly what Tiger needed. He needed someone to tell him how ridiculous his swing was getting.

So far the results appear to be excellent given his first round at the Barclays. If he sticks with Foley I stand a good chance of being proven wrong. I hope I am, I hope he returns to greatness, golf with Tiger at its peak is far better off than without. Here's hoping he doesn’t master this swing and then decide Foley is no good for him. Tiger, it appears you've found a good thing in Foley, stick with it for more than 2 seasons. Don’t go back to thinking you can diagnose and fix your own swing, you can’t, nor should you.

Tiger and Elin Split

Divorce usually takes years, not months, but for Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren, time was of the essence. Their marriage ended August 23, and it's safe to say this was the best decision for the couple, fans and media.

Why? Because the speculation of settlements and how the impending split was hindering Tiger's play on the course was becoming too much to handle. It sucked the life out of him - and it should have. Reports and confirmations of Tiger's prowling across the nation were daily fodder for the national media and especially bloggers. I have no sympathy for Tiger, he dug his own marital grave, but imagine the toll it took on his personal life. For a player with tunnel vision, there was no fighting the wandering thoughts of how big a fall he has taken in the past 9 months.

The larger question is, where will Tiger go now? It's a lost year for him, so throwing together any type of "come back" in the next few months of the PGA Tour schedule will simply be momentum for 2011. We know he isn't going to add to his major total - that opportunity is lost. We know he's never had a worst professional year on Tour.

But do we know he'll make it back to what he once was? No. However, we should expect it. The rust will be knocked off his brain and we'll see Tiger return to form in 2011. Take it to the bank (and tell Elin hello while you're there). No pre-nup could hold up under the situation Tiger put his family in - nor should it.

Money doesn't matter anymore, though. When you're worth over a billion dollars, shelling out an alleged $100 million is merely a blip in the financial radar. Tiger will make that up in the future.

But don't expect him to make up another year like 2010. He's too stubborn, too driven, and too good to have another lost year attached to his resume.

Where is Phil?

After the starting the year in triumphant fashion with a win at the Masters, we have seen little magic from Phil Mickelson in 2010.

He's played in 16 events with an average of 70.3 per-round, missed one cut and has had 5 Top 10 finishes. But this was the year he was supposed to take over the No. 1 ranking from Woods. With various opportunities throughout the year to do so, and Woods in a coma, it makes you wonder what has pushed Phil so close to being No. 1, but always falling short.

Maybe he's just Woods' Scottie Pippen. He may not be cut out to be the No. 1 golfer as he appears to be unable to make that next step. Or maybe his driver is just that bad this year: Driving Accuracy: 52.8% (188th); Total Driving: 198 (107th). Add in a 66% greens in regulation (119th) and you've got a recipe for No. 2 status.

It's just a hunch, but this should have been Phil's year to ascend to the PGA Tour throne and he fell short.

Every golfer has been in the bunker. All it takes is one bad swing to end up in the beach, but the sand most golfers face is an obvious hazard.

For Dustin Johnson, that wasn't the case on Sunday in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. On his second shot of the 500-yard par 4 18th hole, Johnson found his ball sitting in a small chunk of sand - not the normal sarlac pit surrounding greens and fairways. Even though golfers were warned that the course contained around 1,200 bunkers scattered inside and outside the ropes, Johnson didn't think his ball was in a bunker.

Little did he know, bunkers at Whistling Straits are of the one size fits all variety. He hit out of the sand and ended up bogeying the hole to finish at -11 and believing he was about the start a three hole playoff with Martin Kaymar and Bubba Watson.

A rules official, and a lack of being hooked on phonics prevented that, though. Since Johnson grounded his club in the ashtray-esque sand trap, he was given a two stroke penalty and dropped from the playoff.

The rules were clear, even if the situation was not: "All areas of the course that were designed and built as sand bunkers will be played as bunkers (hazards), whether or not they have been raked. This will mean that many bunkers positioned outside of the ropes, as well as some areas of bunkers inside the ropes, close to the rope line, will likely include numerous footprints, heel prints and tire tracks during the play of the Championship. Such irregularities of surface are a part of the game and no free relief will be available from these conditions."

There were no rakes, just footprints, tire tracks and fans surrounding Johnson. It didn't matter if Johnson grounded by accident or with full knowledge it was penalty; he did it.

Critics are screaming that it's an injustice - but if you speed on the highway it's still illegal even if no one sees it. That's why this entire situation is so unique to the sport of golf... players call penalties on themselves and if they don't, there's usually a rules official there to write the ticket.

Don't call it unfair or criticize a rule that was clearly broken. All Johnson had to do was pay attention to the warnings plastered all over Whistling Straits about the bunkers and his caddie should have done the same. The clear thing is that Johnson is in the beginning stages of what looks to be a stellar career. His major will come some day, just not in 2010.

It's been a theme all year: pay attention to the good happening on the course, because there's been a lot of it. Kaymar's victory in the playoff over Watson, though unspectacular, topped off the final major of 2010 in a way few seem to appreciate because of this controversy. The tournament in general can stand alone as an entertaining and great TV experience for golf fans, but only if they let it - and too many did not.

Here are the current odds for the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. Even after Tiger's horrible weekend and Phil's bad sunday the odds still favor them.

Phil Mickelson 10/1
Tiger Woods 12/1
Rory McIlroy 16/1
Padraig Harrington 20/1
Steve Stricker 22/1
Ernie Els 28/1
Jim Furyk 33/1
Retief Goosen 33/1
Hunter Mahan 33/1

Defending champion Y.E. Yang is currently at 150/1.

If it's the year of the pitcher in Major League Baseball, it's definitely the year of the birdie on the PGA Tour. 

Add Stuart Appleby to the list of five players who have shot a 59 in tournament play this year. Appleby birdied the final three holes in Sunday's Greenbrier Classic to put himself in the history books and earn a one-stroke victory (-22). Paul Goydos also shot a 59 this year at the John Deere Classic on July 8, but did not go on to win the tournament. 

The tournament opened with double heart transplant survivor Erik Compton (-4) topping the leader board after day one, and ended with Appleby putting on a birdie show. Appleby was in the midst of a four-year winless drought until Sunday. 

The Australian was able to jump the biggest hurdle that golfers face when in reach of a 59: a mental block. Golfers know the mental game is 80% of the fight and Appleby proved he had the capacity to push back any doubt creeping into his mind - while on the prowl for the win - and achieve his goal. 

What made Appleby's 59 so special was the fact he HAD to shoot such a low score to win the tournament, and he did. Few golfers will ever experience such a final round at a tournament. Jeff Overton, who finished second (-21), didn't enjoy watching history being made Sunday, that's for sure. 

Full Leaderboard

Predictions Analysis:

Below are my predictions and how they fared compared to real life...

1. Jim Furyk. Actual Finish: T9 (-14)
2. Boo Weekley. Actual Finish: T9 (-14)
3. Erik Compton. Actual Finish: T73 (-4)
4. Davis Love II. Actual Finish: T60 (-8)
5. John Daly. Actual Finish: 77 (E)

Again, don't take my picks to Vegas. If T9 can get you paid in the sports book, I'm your guy. Maybe later this week I'll unveil a new way to make picks for each weeks tournament that aren't based on a wing and a prayer. My guess is that another 59 will be shot before I give you a resounding performance with my picks this year. However, that could mean a good betting day is around the corner. You never know. 

There is a lull in the golf world. In between majors, the PGA Tour is basically an afterthought to sports fans every where - besides the golf enthusiasts.

Needless to say, many aren't even aware the Greenbrier Classic is being played as I type this. Sometimes, as a golf fan, one must dig deeper to find a reason to tune into tournaments between majors that so often fall into the abyss.

However, each week, there are always a few story lines worth checking out, and the Greenbrier is no exception.

Current co-leader Erik Compton is a double heart transplant recipient who needed a sponsors exemption to even make the trip to West Virginia. But here he is, overcoming a slow start and rattling off a slew of birdies in the first round to put himself well in contention to make the cut.

Think about how many times you've felt like you may have a heart attack on the golf course after you hit, find your ball behind a tree, or simply can't find the thing at all. My guess is your still recounting all the times you felt like that - because it happens far too often.

Double heart transplant surgery... sure makes shanking a ball into the woods seem trivial.

After seeing the results from Round 1, here are my predictions for who will be in the Top 5 come Sunday:

1. Jim Furyk - He's four shots back, but I think he's due.
2. Boo Weekley - Playing solid golf, will continue to be in contention throughout the year.
3. Erik Compton - Would love to see him win, but giving him a karma play here by putting him at 3. Not sure he can hold off, though.
4. Davis Love III - He's had a good year up to this point... quietly.
5. John Daly - It's gotta be the pants...

Tweeting the game

One this is certain, no matter your feelings on Twitter, golf writers and players provide some of the best content on the site, hands down. If you're on Twitter and you're not following these individuals, you have no reason to be on Twitter. Here's who you need to follow and why:

@JasonSobel - Insightful updates about whatever tournaments he's covering. As the Senior Golf Writer for ESPN he has great access to the players. Provides comedic relief as well.

@stewartcink - Absolutely hilarious. Enough said - just check him out.

@PGA_JohnDaly - Well, it's John Daly, do you need any other reason?

On second thought...

I found myself sitting in front of the TV Sunday... a nervous look on my face... peering over my shoulder... looking side-to-side.

"Will they think I'm a hypocrite?" I asked myself. "Can I be forgiven for not practicing what I've preached?"

Since you're on a golf Web site, I'll assume you know the British Open was played over the weekend at St. Andrews. Since you're on THIS Web site, I'll assume (good use of that word here) you've read my past columns.

So, I'm just going to confess -- I couldn't watch the British Open for more than 10 minutes without being bored out of my mind. Looking back, the highlights of the event weren't even very high, and they weren't even very bright.

The best highlights were pressed on John Daly's pants.

I've been saying in this space for about a month that golf fans should be tuning into PGA Tour events - regardless of the star being there or not - because the lesser-known players have been stepping it up and making the golf on TV worth watching.

The stars were out this weekend and that didn't even translate into good TV - or very good golf for that matter. The weather was a huge factor, as it always is as St. Andrews, but it got to the point where the conditions were no longer compelling because it hurt the performances so much. When the golf isn't that good in the first place, it creates a tournament that isn't exciting or worth four hours on a Sunday afternoon.

I'm not going to give up watching TV events because of this weekend, but I'm also not going to pretend I have any interest in seeing Louis Oosthuizen win a major either. Had he not completely run away with the tournament, I may have felt different, but there was just no substance to it. No one got close after the second round and historically - as unfortunate as this may be - no ones going to remember the 2010 British Open.

Now, had Oosthuizen been wearing Daly's pants..... well, that just changes the whole story now doesn't it?

Predictions Analysis
aka Don't Take Me To Vegas

Here is a look at my Top 10 predictions and how they stacked up (not well).

1. Tiger Woods; Actual Finish: 24
2. Rory McIlroy; Actual Finish: T3
3. Justin Rose; Actual Finish: Missed Cut
4. John Daly; Actual Finish: T48
5. Phil Mickelson; Actual Finish: T48
6. Stewart Cink; Actual Finish: T48
7. Sergio Garcia; Actual Finish: T14
8. Steve Stricker; Actual Finish: T55
9. Dustin Johnson; Actual Finish: T14
10. Tom Watson; Actual Finish: Missed Cut

1. Tiger Woods - I haven't given up hope on Tiger Woods winning a major in 2010 yet. He was tied for fourth at the Masters and U.S. Open, which signifies even with a million things swirling around in his head and a faulty golf game, he can still compete. Andy North said on ESPN Wednesday night that if Tiger wins a major this year, it should be considered a bonus to him in his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus after all he's gone through in the past year. I mostly agree with that statement because no one will truly fault him for not winning a major this year. St. Andrews is his favorite course (which seems to be a trendy thing to say this week) and it suits his golf game better than nearly any other course on the Tour. He's separated from his old Scotty Cameron putter and has chosen one more suitable for slow greens. The only question - how much does the putter get in this split?

2. Rory McIlroy - A hometown boy, McIlroy knows the course and how to play in the inclement weather that is sure to rear its ugly head throughout the next four days. McIlroy has shown he can compete with the big boys after winning the Quail Hollow Championship by four strokes. In 2010, we have seen a new scene of young golfers start to make their place on the Tour, and I don't have any intentions of counting McIlroy out on his home turf.

3. Justin Rose - Being paired with Tiger Woods in the first round used to be a very tall task, and in some ways it still is, but Rose is as hot a golfer there is on tour right now. He won the AT&T National and is the #3 ranked golfer in the world. With four Top 10s already in his bag in 2010, I'd be very surprised not to see Rose in contention on Sunday. Birdies are key at St. Andrews - so is avoiding hazards - but Rose ranks 3rd in birdies per round (4.07), so he'll have to reign in his driver (ranked 28th in driving accuracy) to round out his game.

4. John Daly - After seeing John Daly pose in his Jackson Pollack inspired sport coat for the Champions dinner, it's hard not to get behind him. His golf game is temperamental so he may shoot in the low-mid 60s one day and throw it all out the window the next... but I think he's due.

5. Phil Mickelson - Mickelson doesn't have a storied history at the British Open, but eliminating him from contention would be a huge mistake. He won the Masters and has five Top 10 finishes in 13 events this year. Oh, and he's also Top 10 in driving distance (7), birdies per round (6) and eagles (9). If he doesn't drive himself into hazards and take unneeded chances trying to remove himself from those mistakes, he'll be primed for a shoot-out on Sunday.

6. Stewart Cink - Cink battled Tom Watson in 2009 and edged him in a playoff for the victory. Taking a look at the leaderboard from last year will show their scores are the same at -2, but Cink walked away with the Claret Jug. There is always something to be said of a defending champion taking a run at repeating, but understanding the pressure he/she faces is something only the players can truly understand. He's only made 1/2 cuts at Majors this year, but his game is well-suited for St. Andrews.

7. Sergio Garcia - As long as Sergio doesn't spit in the hole or play mind games with himself, he should be able to compete at a high level and crack the Top 10. Then again, he's as inconsistent as John Daly at times and seems to be his biggest enemy. That being said, he can drive the ball a long way and is always a threat, but he seems to play his best golf when he's already out of contention. I believe he'll win a major one day, but not this one.

8. Steve Stricker - Golfers who win the week before a major rarely produce the same results the following week, but Stricker is red hot right now. Following a win at the John Deere Classic with a major win at the British open will be a tall task - not one I believe he'll achieve - but he's peaking at the right moment to make a run at it.

9. Dustin Johnson - He fell apart at the U.S. Open but one thing that's needed at St. Andrews is length off the tee - and Johnson has it. He'll need to improve his driver accuracy (ranked 160th) and rely on eagles (1) and birdies (10) to pull him through and recover from any off-the-tee mishaps. If his mental game is as strong as his golf game, you'll see him toward the top come Sunday.

10. Tom Watson - I'm putting him at 10, but I'd like to see him at 1 by the end of Sunday. He has so much history at this course and tournament and it is unknown how many more times we'll get to see him play here - especially at St. Andrews. Maybe he has one miracle left in him after falling a shot short in 2009.