Is a softer Tiger emerging?

According to golf writer Derek Lawrenson of the Daily Mail, Tiger Woods was playing the role of proud papa on Monday night at the Dunraven Arms in Adare, Ireland.

Moments after he thrashed his way around the course in an un Tiger-like 7-over par 79 at the JP McManus Pro-Am, Woods was showing off video of his 15-month old son, Charlie, swinging a golf club to his fellow pros.

"His lad's swing is quite incredible," said Ian Poulter, who was among those to get a glimpse of this other side of Tiger. "The grip, the swing, it's all incredible. Given those genes I reckon we've got about 13 years left to win majors. By the time he's 15, he will probably be winning the Masters by about 25 shots."

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Still with Woods and his two-day trip to Ireland, CBSSports.com senior sports writer Steve Elling had this little ditty on his appearance at the pro-am event in County Limerick, Ireland

"There once was a guy named Woods; as a golfer he had all the goods; then his personal life got harry; his wife wanted to unmarry; and now his game's filled with woulds, coulds and shoulds."

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The 2010 golf season is half over and what have we learned so far? Despite playing in just six events and finishing out of the top 40 in a golf tournament for the first time in five years, Tiger Woods remains the number one player in the world. He has clinched the Mark H. McCormack Award for the 13th straight season, given to the player atop the world ranking for the most weeks in a calendar year. It might be the only piece of hardware Tiger takes home this season.

Phil Mickelson has yet another chance to dethrone Tiger at number one. But you have to wonder if Phil is up for the challenge. Lefty has never been No. 1 — not in the world ranking, the money list, scoring average for the prestigious Vardon Trophy, not even on the majority of ballots for PGA Tour player of the year.

While Phil is the feel good story of the year thanks to his stirring Masters victory, that's his only victory to date. There have been three multiple winners on the PGA Tour this year — Ernie Els, Jim Furyk and Justin Rose. Each has two wins.

If anyone is in a position to wrestle PGA Player of the Year honours away from Woods it's likely Els. He has earned more world ranking points than anyone this year and he also leads the PGA Tour in the only two statistics that matter — scoring average (69.54) and money (nearly $4 million).

A year ago, Europeans only won three PGA Tour events. This year, they won three in a row in June alone — Rose at the Memorial, Lee Westwood at the St. Jude Classic, Graeme McDowell at the U.S. Open.

When it comes to top rookie, it appears to be a race between Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy. Fowler is 21, yet he turned pro only 10 months ago. He had a chance to win in Phoenix and had the 54-hole lead at the Memorial. McIlroy is 21 as well — even if it seems as though he has been around forever. His 62 in the final round to win Quail Hollow will not be forgotten anytime soon.

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Just to illustrate what type of year its been on the PGA Tour, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson have combined for one win between them (Mickelson at the Masters). There was a time when the trio would have upwards of a dozen victories under their belt.

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Chris Evert has spoken publicly for the first time since her 15-month marriage to golfer Greg Norman ended. She tells Australia's Women's Day magazine that she had "no idea" a divorce was coming. "It wasn't talked about, ever. Never in a million years did I imagine it would end up like this."

When asked if she missed Norman, Evert responded, "The best part about him are his parents."

-The Globe and Mail

Woods likens marriage break-up to father's death

Golfer Tiger Woods has likened his marriage break-up with the pain he suffered after the death of his father.

"There are times in one's life when things get put into perspective. One being when my father passed and another what I've been going through lately," thesun.co.uk quoted Woods as saying.

His father and mentor, Earl, died of cancer, aged 74, in 2006. However, Woods is struggling to save his marriage with Elin Nordegren after his alleged infidelities were exposed.

Refusing to comment directly on the split, he said: "Everything is working out."

Reports also suggest that Woods is close to sealing a $100 million divorce settlement with his estranged wife.

Justin Rose wins 2nd title in 2K10 @ the AT&T

Rose talks to the media after his win

The "Mechanic", Miguel Angel Jimenez wins the French Open in playoff

Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain won the French Open on the first hole of a playoff Sunday against countryman Alejandro Canizares and Francesco Molinari of Italy.

The trio finished the fourth round at Le Golf National in Versailles at 11-under 273. Jimenez shot a 67 and his rivals had 68s.

Jimenez had a par on the playoff at No. 18, while Canizares twice hit his ball into the water and Molinari found a fairway bunker with his tee shot and the sand again with his third shot, an approach to the green.

Jimenez earned $613,000 for his 17th European Tour victory and second this season, moving him into the top nine of the qualifying list to automatically make Europe's Ryder Cup team.

The Spaniard had a two-shot lead when he teed off on the 18th, but hit his approach into the water and made double bogey.

"It was quite dramatic in the playoff, but my greater experience probably helped me," said Jimenez, who also won the Dubai Desert Classic this season. "And I had the luck to be able to drive off first.

"I do want to play in the Ryder Cup because this year is probably my last chance at my age. I am taking qualifying week by week, but it would make me very proud to be a member of Colin Montgomerie's team."

Canizares' finish was enough to qualify him for the British Open at St. Andrews July 15-18.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy finished in fourth, one shot outside the playoff, after a 66.

Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen was tied for the lead with Molinari and Canizares teeing off at the 15th, but he found water three times, eventually taking a 10 at the hole. He finished six shots behind the leaders.

Earlier, Matteo Manassero, having started out in tied for 62nd, shot a 65 to climb 39 places and finish tied for 26th.

The Italian teenager, who won the British Amateur title in 2009, believed the round could be a turning point in his bid to establish himself on the European Tour.

"I know I am able to make cuts," he said. "But I have been having one bad day at each tournament. If I can be more consistent and cut out that bad day then I know I will be OK."

Tiger's divorce settlement: Cheaper then expected

Turns out Elin Nordegren probably won't get as much cash as rumored. The figure $750 million was being tossed around during the pro golfer's affair scandal, but it seems like that's way too high.

The folks at Forbes have apparently been tracking the athlete's earnings since he went pro in 1996, and they claim he's only worth about $600 million total. So, the Tiger Woods divorce will be SO cheap, since Elin would likely only get a slice of his net worth.

The settlement is apparently almost done, and Tiger could be a single man by the end of the day tomorrow. The papers just need to be filed with the courts, then that's it -- he's free to (continue to) move about the country with whomever he chooses.

This is what Forbes had to say about the matter (via USA Today):

We've been tracking Tiger's earnings since he turned pro in 1996. Last year he became the first athlete to earn a cumulative $1 billion through his income from prize money, appearance fees, endorsements and his golf course design business. Nike has been his biggest benefactor paying the world's top golfer in the neighborhood of $250 million since 1996. The relationship has obviously bolstered Nike as its golf division reported annual sales of $638 million last week. Tiger's annual earnings in 2010 will be down at least $30 million after sponsors like Accenture, AT&T and Gatorade walked away. He still earned $105 million over the past 12-months and ranks fifth on our recent list of the most powerful celebrities.

"Yet those earnings are before the tax man and his agents at IMG took their cut. And if you think Tiger made a killing in the stock market, think again. The S&P 500 is at the same level it was at 12 years ago. By our count Woods is worth $600 million and any divorce settlement is likely to be worth a fraction of current reports."

-Zimbio

Tiger plus-3 after first round @ AT&T