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 weekly feature we call Making the Cut.5. Tony Romo -- On Wednesday, Romo got the unique pleasure of teeing it up with Mr. Woods during the pro-am of the AT&T National. Not only is the Cowboys quarterback getting flak from college coaches and sports bloggers alike, but he is having to try and keep his game together with the best in the world. Sure, Tiger played a little with Peyton Manning earlier this year, but Romo's game is at a different level. Maybe next year, Woods will invite Ben Roethlisberger for some true competition?
4. Jim Brown -- This week, Brown took to his guns on the ongoing battle against Tiger Woods and his inability to put himself out there for social issues. Brown said, "You know what's so interesting about Tiger to me? He is a killer, he will run over you, he will kick your ass. But as an individual for social change? Terrible. Terrible." Tiger responded as Tiger always does, avoiding talking entirely about Brown's comments but instead pointing to what he does do for the community and charity and the world. I was once told by a wise older gentleman that there is no point in digging for gold where there is no gold to be had, and I feel like that is what people like Brown do with Tiger. By all accounts, Woods is a regular guy that is gifted as hell at a sport and has used his power for good, not evil. Maybe he isn't out there picketing companies or pointing fingers at racists, but it just doesn't seem to be in him. Look at golf prior to 1997 and ask yourself this -- has Tiger not done enough for this game?
3. Greg Norman -- You know that feeling when you're married, and you know it isn't going to work out, and realize that you're probably going to have to pay your wife $103 million dollars? Oh, not so familiar with that? Well, Norman is, and even though he had to dump a pretty hefty powerball sum to his ex-wife, he is still the richest celebrity in Australia. That is, until Simon Cowell decides to visit the kangaroo state's Bureau of Records to change nationality.
2. Kenny Perry -- A win last week at the Travelers Championship, and now Perry is arguably the hottest golfer on the planet, at a ripe 48. With two more majors to go and the FedEx Cup still very much up for grabs, picking a player of the year would be tough right now, but Perry has to be in the conversation. His goal last year was to make the Ryder Cup. He did that. Earlier this season he commented that he wants to get to 20 wins in his career. It would be hard to bet against him winning six more times with his current game. Is his next goal a major championship? We saw at the Masters that him winning one isn't out of the question, and that experience at Augusta will only help if he ever gets back in that position.
1. Tiger Woods -- I'm sure you're surprised to see him in the top spot. Tiger usually wears more hats than anyone on tour, but this week he has to add "host" to his repertoire. The AT&T is his tournament, and I'm sure Tiger would want nothing more than to take the trophy home to Florida. The slump of Tiger continues, since he's only won one of his last two tournaments, so if he doesn't win this week, he could be in some serious trouble.
