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For like the first time in a year, there's a change. Obviously Tiger and Vijay are still 1 and 2, but Retief Goosen in now #3, and by a pretty decent amount of points over Mickelson who's now 4 and Els is 5. Kinda weird since Goosen, Els and Mickelson haven't even played in the past month. I'm sure they'll be some musical chairs this year in spots 2-5, although Tiger can miss every cut and still stay #1 at the end of the year.

They all carry about the same weight when you consider who is among the favorites to win any of the majors....see the list, see those names...

I don't want to start a Tiger argument here, but I have to believe that the odds to win any major have to be a bit more in Tiger's favor than they would be for any of the other four on that list.

I think Els is the most understated by his ranking. Obviously his injury affected things. I think he will pull away from Goosen and Mickelson soon enough. Him and Vijay will probably be in a race for number 2, and Goosen & Mickelson for 4.

Monty has slipped to 10th, but will probably pull up, because he is going to play this week coming.

The funny part I have found is that Sergio has nearly caught the big 5, and it's difficult to envisage Jim Furyk from moving up the ranking points anytime soon, so there could be changes from 7-8 right up to about 4.

The other thing, watch out for Harrington, he will soon be making his way back into the top 10, and well inside it, in my opinion anyway.

Talk about rankings J.B.Holmes is 537th. Last week he was not even ranked. After winning Q-school I can't believe he wasn't even ranked.

Well consider the competition in the Q-School tourney. Most of those guys are either struggling PGA players trying to get or keep their cards or guys attempting to make the jump from tours where the competition is not on the level of the PGA Tour. So it would stand to reason winning the Q-School event does garner major ranking points.

Don't worry if the guy keeps playing well he'll move up accordingly.

I think the term "Big Five" is gone, and it should be. I think one or 2 players will pass them in the rankings, probably Furyk and Sergio if they get hot. You can't use "Big 4" anymore since Goose has already passed 2 of them. But I think Vijay's going to have a good year, but not as good as the past 2, and there will be a race for #2, I feel, b/w a bunch of guys. I think Goose and Els are going to have a much better year and will be in that race for #2. Not sure about Phil and Sergio. But I expect Furyk to be up there in the top 4 or 5 before the end of the year. Still, no one will come even close to Tiger.

Yes he has the best odds to win, Vegas isn't dumb. But he no longer wins every major either! No Tiger war here either, but if you look at the top-5 in odds (and The Godfather's reference is to the Top 5 in World Rankings isn't it? Not the Top 1), those named are mentioned in his League, League -- simple facts.

Yes, the others in the top 5 are in his league, but your original claim that "they all carry the same weight" when it comes to being the favorite to win a major isn't backed by any odds I've seen. Tiger will still be favored to win any major over any of the other four.

League, League, what's your beef with me buddy??? Something bothering you here??? I'll make you a bet League for the next Four years, you take Tiger woods and I'll take the other 4 who are ranked in the Top 5 of the World Rankings today...

Vijay, Goosen, Michelson and Ells....who ever has the the most majors those 4 versus your Tiger Woods and the loser pays dinner if you think Tiger's that much better than those 4 in the majors, that's essentially what you are saying in case your reasoning isn't aware of it....

Odds are just odds, there's no guarantee of success with odds...bet you had the Colts giving the 10 points on Sunday, you lose.

You say it and I agree. But the fact is they didn't even rank him. And after a good finish at Sony they rank him 537th or thereabouts.
P.S. We're talking about J.B. Holmes

Golfaholic, league said Tiger was favored over ANY of the other four individually, not ALL of the other four collectively.

I know what he said Bolt, he just taking it a little bit further and so am I...I'm saying that basically all those guys have to be considered a favorite to win any of the majors and he's saying really only Tiger's the one who is more of a lock and not the other four and that's where I disagree with him...any one of those 5 are considered favorites to win the majors, League chose to be a bit picky and go on that Tiger's that much better and I disagree with him.

If you look at the last 5 years

Masters
05 Woods
04 Mickelson
03 Weir
02 Woods
01 Woods

British open
05 Woods
04 Hamilton
03 Curtis
02 Els
01 Duval

PGA

05 Mickelson
04 Singh
03 Micheel
02 Beem
01 Toms

US Open

05 Campbell
04 Goosen
03 Furyk
02 Woods
01 Goosen

Thats:
5 for Woods
6 for the other 4(Els, Mick, Goose and V.J.)

If you look only at the BIG 4, it drops to 4 cause Goosen has 2 of the 6...Either way, with the insert of the lesser than Big 5 at so many of the majors its a safe bet that more "ALSO RANS" will win more than any of them.....in the next 4 years anyway...

Thanks for the post on this Boomer....I'd agree with those comments. Both arguments will hold water here....the "ALSO RANS" and the other 4 of the Top Five (2-5 rankings) are in the same "League" as Mr. Woods.

I've had enough of this to last me a week and it's only Tuesday....