Sheshan Golf

It was also one of those strange years.

What a strange year it has been in professional golf.

Of course, Tiger Woods has won six tournaments after knee reconstructive surgery a year ago in June, but he did not win a Grand Slam. That's good news in itself for Woods, whose biggest goal by far is to surpass Jack Nicklaus's record 18 major victories. Woods, the poor boy has stalled for now 14 majors.

Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson just did the unthinkable or at least something that had to be done. He won a tournament by taking Woods in the final group for the first time in his career. Mickelson has only to win the World Golf Championship-HSBC Championship in Shanghai, China during Sheshan International.

It was more than four years Woods and Mickelson were the last group and Sunday. It was at the WGC tournament at Doral Resort in Miami in 2005. Woods began the round two strokes behind Mickelson and win the tournament by a shot on him. This time, things were different, even if no discerning golfer during the last round.

Mickelson shot a 69 after starting the final round two strokes ahead of Woods, 72 pushed him to sixth place. "Nothing came easy"

Mickelson said. "I have not touched his success."

He has not had as he won his fourth tournament of the year. Like Woods, none of his victories was a big one. Woods and Mickelson are the two best players in the world, and as many tournaments they have won, collectively, this year is a great season without missing a season that really counts.

Meanwhile, you remember who won the majors? Each champion can be considered a surprise, but not to the same degree: Angel Cabrera in the Masters, Lucas Glover at the U.S. Open, Stewart Cink at the Open Championship, and you Yang in the PGA Championship, when he was the one who hit the big shots down the stretch, not Woods, with whom he played.

So what does all this mean for next year? The short answer, and probably the most honest, is who knows? But Mickelson and Woods have put things right. It must be good for game Mickelson was winning regularly and that Woods has won six times and hungry for his big 15. Very hungry.

Mickelson said after his victory that HSBC is not only happy in 2010, but "I have very high expectations." Why not? He won the Grand Tour Championship, his last tournament of the year in the U.S. in September, and now he is beating Woods and many other elite players, including Ernie Els and Rory McIlroy, China.

Woods, meanwhile, will play in the Masters this week from Australia to the beautiful course Kingston Heath in Melbourne and will host and play in the Chevron World Challenge December 3 to 6 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, he could win both, but it will probably already be thinking about and preparing for the Masters next April.

Woods was barely off the field in the final round of the HSBC, when he was looking forward rather than backward, and he just wanted to "get out of here." Asked if something was wrong with his game, he said, No, just one of those days. "

Tiger Woods Masters

Difficulty lies Opportunity