Making the Cut: Welcome Back, Mr. Daly

Each Wednesday during the golf season, FanHouse will list the top five names in golf and why they're important. Did Barack play 18 with Tiger? Did a certain player do something controversial off the course? Or was just playing golf enough to get the pot stirring? Join us for a new weekly ranking feature we call Making the Cut.

5. Tony Romo -- He might have failed to qualify for the Byron Nelson Championship, but Romo reminded us yet again that he is the best golfing quarterback in the world. Also, he reminded us that even the top tier athletes can utterly choke it on the golf course. Two-over par with three holes to play, Romo could have thrown in a couple of birdies and hoped even par would get into the next stage of qualifying. A triple-bogey followed by closing bogeys was visual evidence that our affection towards golf can change from love to hate quicker than a hook will snap.

4. David Feherty -- I have been torn on this Feherty issue since I first read what the CBS announcer said concerning Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Should he have avoided saying that? Absolutely. Was he trying to be funny, in that quirky, announcing style that has made him so famous with the golf world? I think so. He did apologize and I believe he was really sorry for what he said. While one of my colleagues thinks Feherty should be dropped by CBS, I'm one that hopes it doesn't happen. Watching golf on television would be a little less interesting without Feherty around, and I think that everyone says stuff they wish they hadn't.

3. Tiger Woods -- Tiger is still the only person in the world that can place eighth at the Players Championship, his best finish there since 2001, and be bombarded with slump talk. His swing is a off right now, but I guarantee Hank Haney was on a quick flight to Isleworth Sunday night for an early session on Monday to try and iron out these swing flaws. People are saying this might be the end of the Tiger era (I actually said that nine months ago), but I think for now we can all be excited to see if Tiger can repeat at the U.S. Open without being 100 percent. Last year it was a knee. This year it might be the driver. You might doubt him, but I guarantee you wouldn't bet against him at Bethpage Black.

2. Henrik Stenson -- Made famous not for his Accenture Match Play victory in 2007 but for his decision to strip down to his underwear to hit a shot at the CA Championship this season, it might be time to realize the guy can play. Ranked fifth in the world now, Stenson put together one of the better closing rounds in Players history, bringing back memories of the 64 Davis Love III posted in the final round at Sawgrass in 2003 to win. If you don't think Stenson is major championship material, you just aren't paying attention. Last year, he had two top-10s in majors and might be my favorite to win at Turnberry in July.

1. John Daly -- Wild thing, I think I love ya. Big John threw together his own 66 across the pond last Sunday, finishing second at the Italian Open and reminding us that when he stops acting like a child and actually focuses on golf, he is really, really good. Nobody was sure how Daly would come back after his suspension from the game, but the now 43-year-old Daly appears to have finally grown up, and his gut and his game are the beneficiaries. The PGA Tour could use Daly right now with all the sponsorship troubles, so the moment he's allowed back on the course, I think we will all welcome him back with open arms. Oh, and the new clothes -- fantastic!