Ten greatest athletes in Houston sports history

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  Earl Campbell, Hakeem Olajuwon, Nolan Ryan. …more 

[More ‘greatest’ cities: Boston | Chicago | Dallas | New Orleans | Complete coverage]

Houston is well known for its diverse population, space program and unbearable summer heat, but the city has also had its share of great athletes over the years.Here are the 10 best athletes in Houston professional sports history, based on their accomplishments and the bonds they formed with locals during their time:

In alphabetical order:

Craig Biggio (Astros, 1988-2007)
For years, Biggio was the most feared hitter in the Astros’ lineup. He spent his entire MLB career with the Astros, snagging five Silver Slugger Awards and seven All-Star appearances along the way.

Earl Campbell (Oilers, 1978-1984)
The first man selected in the 1978 NFL draft, the running back quickly became the face of the Oilers — now the Tennessee Titans. He rushes for more than 1,300 yards in his first four years as a pro.

Campbell won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year awards during his first season with the Oilers, and he went on to win two more NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards. Factor that, plus his five Pro Bowl appearances and three first-team All-Pro selections and it’s easy to see why Houstonians love Campbell.

Andre Johnson (Texans, 2003-present)
Andre Johnson had a career-high 1,598 receiving yards last season. (USA Today Sports)Still an active member of the Texans, Johnson has consistently been the one bright spot on the team’s offense. Andre’s ability to perform at his best under pressure has endeared him to locals, and he remains one of the most respected wide receivers in the NFL. His accolades include six Pro Bowl appearances and two first-team All-Pro selections.

Moses Malone (Rockets, 1976-1982)
Malone did a lot of relocating during his storied NBA career, but he spent more time with the Rockets than any other team. Malone was an instrumental part of the Rockets’ 1982 championship appearance run, walking away with that year’s NBA regular-season. With a previous regular-season MVP trophy and five of his 12 NBA All-Star appearances, Malone will forever be a monumental figure in Houston sports.

Bruce Mathews (Oilers, 1983-1996)
Drafted ninth overall by the Oilers, Mathews was an indispensable part of the Oilers’ offense back then, opening many holes for the great Earl Campbell. Over the years, the 6-foot-5-inch, 305-pound behemoth played all offensive line positions, and he was pretty darn good at all of them, finishing his NFL career with 14 Pro Bowl and seven first-team All-Pro selections.

Yao Ming (Rockets, 2002-2011)
This gentle giant from China helped get the Rockets headed in the right direction, even though he spent a large portion of his NBA career fighting injuries. Yao gave the Rockets a solid inside presence — at least offensively — they hadn’t enjoyed since the days of Hakeem Olajuwon, averaging 19 points and 9.2 rebounds per game during his career while shooting 52 percent from the field.

Warren Moon (Oilers, 1984-1993)
Moon ran the Oilers’ offense for 10 years, and still has the fifth-most career passing yards (49,325). By the time his career was done, Moon had compiled a long list of accomplishments, including nine Pro Bowl appearances, two All-Pro selections, and a Pro Bowl MVP Award.

Calvin Murphy (Rockets, 1970-83)
Despite his 5-foot-9-inch stature, there was no stopping the quickness Murphy displayed on court in his 13 years with the Rockets. He averaged 17.9 points per game in his career, once made 78 straight free throws (still fourth all-time), and his No. 23 is retired by the Rockets.

Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets, 1984-2001)
For years, “The Dream” — more of a nightmare for opponents — carried the Rockets on his back, propelling them to two consecutive NBA titles. His world-famous “Dream Shake” is still imitated by kids and professional basketball players all over the world, and his soft-spoken, humble nature off the court makes him one of the most loved athletes in Houston professional sports history.

Nolan Ryan (Astros, 1980-1988)
“The Ryan Express” tormented batters for years with his fastball, which often exceeded 100 mph. The right-handed pitcher still holds MLB’s record for most career no-hitters with seven.

David is a proud Houstonian who follows a wide range of events from brutal combat sports to basketball.

culled from yahoo sport

If Mohammed Farah does the triple jump, world record will be under fire

HAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT … Mohammed Farah ahead of the Anniversary Games

I must raise my barz

Robbie Grabarz won Olympic bronze in the high jump last year but this season is proving more difficult.

Grabarz, who leapt to Olympic glory after being kicked off lottery-funding when he failed to make the last World Championships two years ago, could only finish joint fourth with a best effort of 2.24m on Friday night.

That was well off the winning leap of 2.38m by Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine who already has a world leading 2.41m and will start as favourite for gold at next month’s World Championships in Moscow.

He even tried for a world record 2.47m last night – failing at his both attempts.

Grabarz, 25, who has a personal best of 2.37m and has already booked his place in the British team for Moscow, admitted: “It wasn’t very good to be honest, that’s it.

“But I’ve got a bit of time to work on my technique.”

MO FARAH is being backed to break the British record over 3,000 metres today — by the man who has held it for 31 years.

Double Olympic champion Farah was not even born when Dave Moorcroft clocked 7min 32.79sec — then a world record when it was set at Crystal Palace in 1982.

Farah will run the distance in the Olympic Stadium at the London Anniversary Games in his final outing before the kick-off of the World Championships on August 10.

He comes into the race on the back of running 3:28.81 to break Steve Cram’s 28-year 1,500m British record at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco last Friday.

Farah became the European record holder and sixth fastest man over the distance in what was just a training exercise for Moscow, where he will defend his 5,000m title and bid to win 10,000m gold — having had to settle for silver two years ago.

It means the 3,000m is the only British record not in the 30-year-old’s locker between 1,500m and half-marathon.

And Moorcroft joked that such is Farah’s form that if he took up the triple jump then Jonathan Edwards’ world record of 18.29m from 1995 would be under serious threat.

Moorcroft saw his mark over 5,000m fall to Farah in Zurich in 2010 after standing for 28 years.

But the 60-year-old said: “I hope the 3,000m record goes to him as well, I really do.

“The thought that this bloke could potentially hold every British record from 1,500m to the marathon, if he makes the step up, is astonishing.

“I don’t have a problem losing the record to Mo — he’s just in phenomenal shape.

“That 1,500m last week was probably the greatest time Mo has ever run, it was phenomenal. “If he tries the triple jump then Jonathan Edwards had better look out.

“It depends what the weather is like this weekend — he may well decide that he just wants to win the race. But clearly he’s more than capable of absolutely smashing it.

“He’s already the greatest distance runner Britain has ever had.

“He has the answer to every single question any other runner throws at him.”

“You`re A Bad Influence On My Wife” – JOSEPH YOBO CHASES MOTHER-IN-LAW FROM HOME

The marriage of Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2008, Adaeze Igwe and Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo is at the moment experiencing some turbulence, this your darling magazine National Enquirer can exclusively reveal. The love birds who got married in a hush manner, barely three months after meeting in December 2009 are said to be patching things so as not to caught the attention of the press and public in general.

According to impeccable sources close to the Yobos, the reason for the squabbles is highly connected to Adaeze’s mother, Mrs. Abigail Igwe now Fashanu after she married the former Footballer turned business man in 2011.

Joseph Yobo and Adaeze’s mum our grapevine revealed became sworn enemies when the Fernabarche of Turkey skipper got wind of her plans to crash his marriage.

It was reliably revealed that the woman who’s married to her third husband with Adaeze and her younger sister from different men, allegedly controls the marriage to the extent of advising her daughter against getting pregnant for Yobo even after Joey, their son is almost three.

The reason she gave her daughter, we further learnt is because she needed to get back into her sexy shape just in case things no longer work out between her and her Plateau born hubby and might require her re-marrying.

She was also alleged to have instigated Adaeze’s hush return to school barely a year after her marriage as the ex-model is presently furthering her studies in far away Santa Monica College, Los Angeles, USA, where she is reading Communication while her husband and son are in Turkey.

The goal hunter who used to play for Everton of England before making a switch to Turkish side Fernabarche also allegedly found out that Mrs. Fashanu could have a hand in Adaeze’s frequent request of money for irrelevant things as she’s said to have developed an unexplainable interest for frequent shopping.

The last straw that broke the camel’s back, our source revealed was when Adaeze’s mother’s visit was becoming too frequent in the Yobo’s Turkish home as she would storm their apartment unannounced and always interfere in every little argument that ensue between the growing couple.

This we learnt eventually led to her ban, as Yobo officially informed her to stop coming to their home as her interference is doing their marriage no good. Adaeze’s mum was also not invited for Joey’s 2nd birthday party which held in their home in Turkey and insiders dispensed that Adaeze has been asked to choose between her mum and her home as she’s not needed in their home for now nor invited to any of their parties.

Culled from National Enquirer Magazine

Oscar Pistorius hocus pocus

On the show … Oscar Pistoriu

ATHLETE Oscar Pistorius is to appear on magician Dynamo’s telly show – despite being charged with the murder of his girlfriend.

The Paralympic athlete, who has admitted shooting Reeva Steenkamp, will be seen taking part in a magic stunt as part of the British conjurer’s tour around South Africa for the new series of Magician Impossible.

Oscar, who is known as the Blade Runner, filmed the appearance last November — three months before the shocking Valentine’s Day incident.

New series of Magician Impossible … Dynamo

Insiders said bosses at telly channel Watch had considered axing the stunt but have decided to go ahead with it barring any new developments in the criminal case.

A source denied it would be disrespectful to Reeva’s parents, saying Oscar’s segment would be presented as part of Dynamo’s journey through South Africa.

The insider said: “It is just a short clip of Oscar doing a magic stunt with Dynamo and is a small part of the overall show.

“The episode it is due to feature in hasn’t been finished yet and bosses did consider whether it should be cut. But they have decided it will stay, barring any major new evidence that comes to light in Oscar’s case.

“But they are continuing to monitor the situation to see if anything happens that would cause them to take it out.”

South African Oscar, who has denied murder, saying he mistook Reeva for an intruder when he shot her, is due back in court in Pretoria next month with his full trial not expected to start until next year.

Details of his appearance on Magician Impossible are under wraps, although it is believed they are due to air in the third episode of the series on July 25.

Double-amputee Oscar was one of the biggest stars of London 2012 — winning 400m gold in the Paralympics. He was also the first amputee runner ever to compete in an Olympics.

His arrest in February stunned many South Africans who saw him as a national hero. The prosecution has accused him of premeditated murder, alleging that he killed Reeva intentionally after a row.

In Dynamo’s new four-part series — which kicks off on Thursday at 9pm on Watch — another London 2012 star will feature with Dynamo, as he “impales” himself on a javelin in front of Jessica Ennis.

He will also be seen doing close-up magic with Hollywood star Samuel L Jackson and playing a game of pool with a difference with comic character Keith Lemon.

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/5002258/Murder-suspect-Pistorius-to-do-trick-on-Dynamo-show.html

Gutsy Andy’s a true champ

 

Culled from sun UK

Sun man hails Wimbledon winner Murray

ANDY AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE … Murray hold the Wimbledon trophy aloft

ANDY MURRAY is Wimbledon champion.

That sounds so good, let’s say it again.

Andy Murray is Wimbledon champion.

No, this time it wasn’t a dream.

As the 26-year-old Scot climbed up into the competitors’ box to embrace his nearest and dearest, the Wimbledon trophy glistened in the sunshine below.

The tennis equivalent of the Golden Fleece, seemingly unattainable to anyone from these shores for all those years, sat on its table with a Union Jack underneath it.

A few minutes later, it was in Murray’s arms.

What a triumph for the boy from Dunblane. He had beaten not only world No 1 Novak Djokovic but history and the heat of an afternoon that had hit 40 degrees centigrade.

In a way, he had also beaten himself.

Last year, he had collapsed in tears after going down to Roger Federer in his first Wimbledon final. Between huge sobs, he had said: “I’ll keep on trying but it’s going to be hard.”

Super Marion Bartoli crushes Sabine to be crowned champ

 

FRENCH BLISS … Marion Bartoli poses with the Venus Rosewater Dish after beating Sabine Lisicki

From TOM BARCLAY at Wimbledon

Published: 06th July 2013

 

Twin peak for Bryans

BOB and Mike Bryan completed the first-ever Golden Slam.

The American twins came from behind to beat Croat Ivan Dodig and Brazilian Marcelo Melo 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 in the mens’ doubles final.

They now hold all four Grand Slam titles PLUS the Olympic doubles won here last year.

Bob said: “This all started when we won gold and we’ve been on an amazing streak.

“Even though we are 35, we feel we are hitting our peak.”

MARION BARTOLI became the 18th different woman to win Wimbledon after she crushed tearful Sabine Lisicki.

The French ace stormed to a 6-1 6-4 victory over Serena-slayer Lisicki who was seen crying at several points DURING the second set.

Bartoli, whose unorthodox style saw her not drop a single set throughout the tournament, becomes the first woman to win the SW19 title in the Open era without facing a top-10 seeded opponent.

The No15 seed is also the first player ranked outside the top 10 to win the All England Championships since 2007.

That year, coincidentally, No31 Venus Williams defeated her to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish.

A delighted Bartoli said: “I cannot believe it. When I was a little girl I dreamed of this moment for so long.

“I missed out in 1997, I know what it is like and I’m sure Sabine will be here one more time, no doubt about it.”

“Finishing with an ace, in my wildest dreams I’d never believe it. I have practised my serve for so long, at least I kept it for best moment!

A CRYING SHAME … fans’ favourite Sabine Lisicki shows her emotions on Centre Court

“Holding this trophy has been my dream since I was six years old. I cannot believe it and I hope to do my best again next year.”

Lisicki said: “I was overwhelmed by the whole situation.

“Credit to Marion, she handled it perfectly. She had been here before. She deserves it and I hope I get the chance one more time as well.”

Lisicki, who had beaten Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska to reach the final, actually made a great start to the match when she broke Bartoli’s opening service game.

But the German was broken straight back and it was downhill from there.

Bartoli, 28, got a foothold in the match by nailing an ace to hold serve, before Lisicki dumped a backhand into the net to give her opponent a 3-1 lead.

STUNNED … Marion Bartoli reacts after sealing victory against Sabine Lisicki

The German was making numerous errors and even threw away a 40-0 lead at 4-1 to be broken AGAIN.

Bartoli could not believe her luck such was her opponent’s poor form and she romped to the first set.

Lisicki, 23, held her opening service game of the second but missed a big chance to break to make it 2-0 as Bartoli staved a number of break points to hold serve.

Bartoli then broke twice more as Lisicki’s game crumbled — and she knew it.

The No23 seed was weeping as she attempted to serve and during the change of ends.

Lisicki did manage to put together a mini fightback, saving THREE Championship points and breaking back to take it 5-3.

But the greatest comeback Wimbledon would have ever seen was not to be as Bartoli exploited the second of her two breaks.

She smashed down an ace to seal the title in style before dropping to the hallowed turf in delirious celebration.

Lewis Hamilton’s love in Schreds

Formula 1 star splits from Nicole Scherzinger,
just weeks after he revealed plan to propose

Ex Factor … Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger in happier times.

FORMULA 1 star Lewis Hamilton has split with Nicole Scherzinger, The Sun can reveal — after their hectic schedules left little time for love.

It caps an unhappy weekend for the Mercedes driver, who missed out on a podium spot at the British Grand Prix yesterday following a dramatic puncture which left one tyre ripped to shreds.

Lewis, 28, and singer Nicole, 35, dated on and off for five years — but struggled to find time for each other with him based in Switzerland and her in the US.

 

Tyre error … Lewis Hamilton’s car yesterday

A source said: “It’s so hard to keep up a relationship when they’re barely in the same country as each other.

“Both have supported each other in their careers and will continue to do so. But the nature of their work ultimately cost their relationship.”

The split comes just weeks after Lewis spoke of his desire to propose to the X Factor judge and former Pussycat Doll.

Asked if he thought about getting down on one knee, he said: “We’ve been together for five years, which is quite a milestone. But hopefully in the near future.”

End of the road … Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger

Entertainment Press Office

LEWIS and Nicole started dating after meeting at the MTV Awards in 2007.

They split in January 2010 but were back together again four months later.

In July 2011, her dad said they were engaged — later denied by Nicole. And just three months on they parted again briefly before reuniting.

They rowed last year after he took ten girls back to his hotel — and a few months later Nicole was spotted kissing R&B bad boy Chris Brown, 24.

Have intimacy, reduce high blood pressure risk

culled from Punch

The story was told of a young man who was picked up dead in his car during a long traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Other road users didn’t know that he had breathed his last; they just kept hooting at him to move on. When he still refused to move, someone got down from his car to see what was going on. Everyone was shocked to realise that the young man — an employee of a bank — had died. A post-mortem revealed that he died of high blood pressure.

Physicians say the actual cause of high blood pressure — also known as hypertension —is unknown. However, they say several factors predispose someone to having it, though many of them are totally preventable.

Clinical Biochemist and Products Manager (Diagnostics), New Heights Pharma, Mr. Olayinka Ebenezer, explains that when the underlying cause of hypertension cannot be determined, it is medically referred to as “essential hypertension.”

He, however, says essential hypertension has been linked to certain risk factors, such as family history, gender and advanced age.

He warns that someone who comes from a family where they have many hypertensive people is likely to become hypertensive sometime in life.

Physicians also warn that essential hypertension is greatly influenced by diet and lifestyle. “The link between salt and high blood pressure is especially compelling, as those who eat more salt than the recommended daily allowance are certainly likely to experience hypertension than those who don’t,” Nutrition Expert at the Mart-Life Detox Clinic, Lagos, Mrs. Idowu Ashiru, warns.

Other things that can cause essential hypertension include smoking, being overweight or obese, lack of physical activity, insufficient intake of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, too much alcohol consumption (more than one to two drinks per day), stress, diabetes, pregnancy, birth control pills containing oestrogen, being over 35 years old, too much fatty foods, sleeplessness, genetics, chronic kidney disease and adrenal/thyroid disorders.

Why hypertension is bad

Many people know that high blood pressure is bad, but they don’t know how bad it can be before it leads to heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease, and, more often than not, death. A cardiologist, Dr. Phillip Tiwalade, warns that hypertension  damages blood vessels and impairs their ability to work properly.

He notes that most of the time, there are no symptoms. He says, “For most patients, high blood pressure is found when they visit hospital or have it checked elsewhere. Because there are no symptoms, people can develop heart disease and kidney problems without knowing they have high blood pressure.”

The doctor stresses that if you have a severe headache, nausea or vomiting, bad headache, confusion, changes in your vision, or nosebleeds, you may have a severe and dangerous form of high blood pressure called malignant hypertension. “See your doctor without delay,” Tiwalade counsels.

Worse still, researchers at Johns Hopkins University, USA, say men and women with hypertension are twice as likely to experience sexual problems as individuals without high blood pressure.

The reason: “Healthy blood vessels are essential to sexual function, but high blood pressure damages blood vessels and impairs their ability to work properly. Hypertension leads to narrowing of the arteries because of plaque build-up.

“A link between high blood pressure and sexual problems is proved in men. Over time, high blood pressure damages the lining of blood vessels and causes arteries to harden and narrow (atherosclerosis), limiting blood flow. This means less blood is able to flow to the penis,” researchers say.

Physicians say for some men, the decreased blood flow makes it difficult to achieve and maintain erections — often referred to as erectile dysfunction.

High blood pressure can also interfere with ejaculation and reduce sexual desire, doctors proffer. They also say, sometimes, the medications used to treat high blood pressure have similar effects.

“In women, hypertension can reduce blood flow to the vagina. This may lead to a decrease in sexual desire or arousal, vaginal dryness, or difficulty achieving orgasm,” the researchers warn.

Those who have this problem are advised to see their doctor.

Sex therapy

For those who have normal blood pressure but are not involved in regular exercise routine, physicians prescribe “sex therapy” as a form of exercise that can keep hypertension at bay.

They are of the view that sex is a form of exercise which, when engaged in regularly, have so many benefits for the body.

Researchers from Scotland, who reported their findings in the journal Biological Psychology, submit that sex relieves stress and lowers blood pressure. The scientists insist that frequent intercourse was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number of blood pressure) in people who live together and have sex often.

Sex also boosts immunity, scientists tell us. Researchers from the Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA, say having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, which can protect you from getting colds and other infections.

Physicians say to reduce your risk of hypertension, lose weight. This is a tall order for many people who may find it hard to hit the gym right away. Not to worry, though, you can also achieve your goal right on your bed or couch.

President of the American Association of Sexuality Educators and Therapists, Dr. Patti Britton, assures that by engaging in just 30 minutes of sex, you can burn 85 calories or more. “Sex is a great mode of exercise. It takes work, from both a physical and psychological perspective, to do it well,” she notes.

Again, a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, reveals that frequent sex improves cardiovascular health. What this translates into, the scientists note, is that while having sex, the heart rate goes from 70 beats per minute to 150 — a good training for the heart.

A 20-year-long British study also shows that having sex thrice a week decreases the risk of heart attack by 50 per cent. “This is because, during sex, the breath is deeper, meaning a better oxygenation,” the researchers assure.

Researchers say the heart health benefits of sex don’t end there. They say having sex twice or more a week reduces the risk of fatal heart attack by half for men, compared with those who have sex less than once a month.

Finally, since hypertension is also associated with sleep apnea, physicians recommend getting more quality sleep of up to seven or eight hours a day. Sex plays a huge role here, too, we are told. Scientists say the oxytocin released during orgasm promotes sleep. In addition, getting enough sleep has been linked with a host of other good things, such as maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure.

MTN World Golf Championship Qualifiers at Ikeja Golf Club

Dr. Awa Ibrahim teeing on hole 14

Nicklaus says Tiger Woods-Sergio Garcia dispute is ‘stupid’

Stn Badz/Getty Images

Nicklaus is the host of this week’s Memorial Tournament.

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Jack Nicklaus only has to look at some of the clashes on the PGA Tour in recent months to see how far golf has come since he was in his prime.

That’s not necessarily a good thing.

“We were trying to figure out how to get somebody to write about anything when we played,” Nicklaus said Wednesday on the eve of the Memorial. “I think today you have to figure out how you keep somebody from writing about anything. It’s a big difference.”

Vijay Singh is suing the PGA Tour over its anti-doping policy. A small group of players has retained a lawyer over the new rule involving long putters. And the dispute getting all the attention is Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia, who didn’t hide their dislike for each other until it reached a point last week that Garcia made a comment with racial overtures about Woods.

“The Sergio-Tiger thing, I mean, it’s stupid,” Nicklaus said. “Do guys have an issue one with another? They usually resolve it themselves. You guys want to resolve it in the newspapers today. Nobody needs that. And I think they both finally said, `It’s enough. Forget it, guys. Let’s move on.’ In our days, I suppose there were times when you had an issue with somebody and it came about. You never read about it.”

The Woods-Garcia spat turned ugly last week when Garcia was jokingly asked at a European Tour dinner outside London if he would have Woods over for dinner during the U.S. Open. Trying to go along with the sarcasm, the Spaniard said he would serve fried chicken.

Garcia apologized that night in a statement and the next day in a news conference, though he said he had been unable to reach Woods over the phone. Woods was asked Wednesday if he considered getting in touch with Garcia to hear the apology so he wouldn’t have to deal with it during a busy, important week at the U.S. Open.

What followed were his first public comments, though they were sparse.

“Was I supposed to go to Wentworth?” Woods said jokingly.

Asked if he would allow Garcia to reach him on the phone to be done with the matter before getting to Merion, Woods said, “That’s already done with.”

Did that mean Garcia apologized to him?

“Not in person, no,” he said. When asked if Woods considered Garcia’s news conference an apology, Woods said, “Move on.”

On one matter there is no dispute – Woods is playing some pretty good golf. When all the discord was mentioned, followed by the question of whether it was healthy for golf, Woods replied, “Well, I’ve won four times.”

No one else has more than one win this year, which explains why Woods has opened another large lead at No. 1 in the world ranking, and why he is the favorite going into the next major championship. The first stop is Muirfield Village, were Woods is a five-time winner.

A year ago, Woods completed a Sunday rally with a chip from behind the 16th green that even Nicklaus, the tournament host, called one of the best shots he ever saw under the circumstances. The flop shot behind the green had to be executed to perfection – anything too soft would turn away to the left down a ridge and leave some 30 feet for par, while anything too firm might run beyond the hole and off the green into the water.

Woods holed it for a birdie.

The Memorial has the top six players in the world ranking and the strongest field in golf among regular tour events. Rory McIlroy, Scott, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Brandt Snedeker are all playing. Given his history – and this golf course – it only seems as though it’s Woods against everyone else.

What is it about the course Jack built and the guy who seems to own it?

“Most golf courses set up well for Tiger Woods,” McIlroy said. “He’s won The Players this year, and that was a golf course that everyone said didn’t quite suit him. … The guy is good wherever he goes and plays. It’s not like he goes to the same course and wins. He can win anywhere.”

Still to be determined is whether he can win at Merion.

Woods made a detour to the course outside Philadelphia for his first look at Merion, which last hosted the U.S. Open in 1981. Scott spent two days at Merion early last week, while McIlroy is on his way to the U.S. Open venue after Merion.

Nicklaus, who played Merion twice for a U.S. Open and lost in a playoff in 1971 to Lee Trevino, said he would be surprised if a player only hit driver once or twice and won. While the middle portion of the course is short even by yesteryear’s standards, the opening and closing stretches are long and tough.

Woods played in cool temperatures, rain and a strong wind. It was plenty long when he played, though he doesn’t think it will be that way in two weeks. What got his attention were some of the winners, notably Trevino and Ben Hogan.

“If you look at the list of champions, they have all been really good shot-makers,” Woods said. “They have all been able to shape the golf ball. … They are very disciplined players. You play to certain spots. You play to certain spots on the greens. You leave yourself certain putts and you deal with it and you move on.”

This is the first time Woods has won four PGA Tour events before the Memorial, though he won four times (in consecutive tournaments) worldwide in 2008 as his left knee was caving in. All that’s missing is a major – Woods has been stuck on 14 majors since winning the 2008 U.S. Open – but it doesn’t hurt to keep piling up wins.

“I’ve been saying it a lot the last two or three years. What’s the matter with Tiger? Nothing is the matter,” Davis Love III said.