From the Sideline

From the Sideline

Brandon Finley

Harrington the new Tiger?

By BRANDON FINLEY
Sports Columnist

Don't look now, but Tiger Woods may have finally found his rival. The weird thing about how it may have happened is that Woods hasn't even played in any of the tournaments where the rivalry may have begun.

The facts are that the Tiger Woods vs. Padraig Harrington rivalry hasn't started yet, but don't be fooled. The rivalry is coming if media members across this country have anything to do about it. After all, don't we all thirst for a competitor to step up to Woods' level of play?

Harrington may have finally done that now that Tiger is on the shelf with his knee injury. The only problem with many people declaring Harrington an official rivalry is that he's yet to do it against Tiger this season. Harrington has won a major with Woods in attendance, but he hadn't come on like he has this season.

With Tiger on the shelf, Harrington has took full advantage in winning the last two major championship in the British Open and The PGA Championship. He's looked dominant at times, and he's looked very human at times. Still, Harrington is winning, and that's all that it takes to have a rivalry with Tiger pushed.

However, the one thing that Tiger and Harrington have had in common is their ability to finish. Harrington closed out the final round of the years' final major proved that he had Tiger's closing ability.

As he closed with a 66 to pull away with a two shot victory, it was clear that Harrington had turned on golf's switch. He looks like a player ready to challenge. He looks like the player that Tiger Woods was in the final round of the US Open earlier this year. More importantly he looks like a player ready to dominate until Woods arrives back on tour. What comes after that will be anyone's guess, but isn't it about time for Tiger to feel a little heat?