Thoughts from the fringe

Six weeks into the 2010 PGA Tour season and the only real theme that has developed is that the game in the United States can manage without Tiger Woods.

But when Dustin Johnson wins the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am with a final-round 74 and Ben Crane wins the Farmers Insurance Open after yanking a 2-foot putt on the 71st hole and his closest competitors decide to lay up on the 72nd hole, one wonders if the level of play hasn't been lowered by Woods' absence.

One thing for certain is that Phil Mickelson hasn't been able to carry into this year the momentum he built by winning the Tour Championship and HSBC Champions to close out 2009. He came into this season with high expectations and buoyed by a revamped putting stroke. But Mickelson didn't really contend at Torrey Pines, Riviera or Pebble Beach, and he revealed Sunday that his putting woes had returned after shooting a final-round 71 to finish in a tie for eighth.

Deep talent pool: While the level of play hasn't been awe inspiring, it's nice to know that there is a gaggle of youthful talent jockeying for a chance to become the game's next big star. On the international stage, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, Japan's Ryo Ishikawa, Australia's Michael Sim and Germany's Martin Kaymer have established themselves as players to watch. Johnson has moved to the head of the pack of most promising players in America, followed in no particular order by Bill Haas, Rickie Fowler, Nick Watney, Alex Prugh and Josh Teater, who finished tied for fifth at Pebble.

The hole from hell: One can only hope the USGA will do some fine-tuning to No. 14 at Pebble Beach when the U.S. Open is held there in June. The par-5 hole caused three train wrecks Sunday in the form of amateur-like quadruple-bogey 9s, derailing Prugh, Bryce Molder and Paul Goydos from any chance of vying for the title. Some folks delight in seeing pros struggle, but come summer, when the green will be harder and faster, a similar pin placement like the one used Sunday could create a cry out for a frog's mouth or a windmill.

Can he keep it going? David Duval will be seeking his first PGA Tour win in nine years this week when he competes in the Mayakoba Classic in Mexico. It was nice to see him play so well at Pebble Beach in finishing in a tie for second with J.B. Holmes. It had been more than eight years since Duval shot in the 60s every round of a PGA Tour event. He earned $545,600 and has essentially the rest of the year to build on a good week. He is playing primarily on sponsors’ exemptions this year, and while they should be readily available for a player who once was No. 1 in the world, Duval does not take them for granted. “In a kind of strange way, it makes me proud,” Duval said. “I feel like I have given the folks who have given me starts this year good fire power for why they did it. That makes me feel good, too.”

No walk in the park: Fred Couples didn't expect it would be easy playing on the Champions Tour, but in just two appearances he has had that notion more firmly established in his mind. Couples was in contention in his Champions Tour debut last month in Hawaii, but Tom Watson birdied the last two holes to finish at 22 under and beat him by a stroke. Couples needed a final-round 64 to win the ACE Group Classic in Naples, Fla., on Sunday for his first victory on the 50-and-over tour, holding off Tommy Armour III by a stroke. Armour -- making his Champions Tour debut -- matched the tour record for lowest score in relation to par with an 11-under 61. Couples made a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 17 and a tap-in par on 18 to earn his first official victory since the PGA Tour’s 2003 Houston Open.

A real crapshoot: Picking the winner of the World Golf Championship Match Play Tournament that kicks off today in Tucson, Ariz., is a lot tougher than selecting which team will be the last one standing in the men's NCAA basketball tournament. Golf is more fickle than college basketball and both have a knack for producing upsets. With this in mind, Oldgolfdawg sees Ian Poulter, Robert Allenby, Stewart Cink and Henrik Stenson reaching the Final Four before Poulter tops Cink in the final. If all four suffer first-round exits, he won't be too upset or surprised. Watching the action unfold this week will be a welcome reprieve from watching the snow that keeps piling up in the driveway. Spring cannot come soon enough.