There are major championships, there are almost-majors and then there are significant tournaments. There are also fourth-tier and fifth-tier events on the PGA Tour, but, hey, that's for later. For now, the next two tournaments qualify in the second and third categories. Moreover, they're not defined by whether Tiger Woods is playing.
To be sure, Woods normally would be playing in this week's Wachovia Championship at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. He'd play in next week's Players Championship at the Tournament Players Club's Stadium course in Sawgrass, Fla. The PGA Tour now calls it the Players alone, assuming that everybody believes it's a championship. Whatever. It's a strong tournament with a stellar field and a sassy course.
Woods isn't playing either event because he's recovering from knee surgery two weeks ago. He won the Wachovia last year, and he won the 2001 Players. Woods tied for 37th place at the Players last year. Except for his one win, he's not distinguished himself at the Stadium course.
Enough about Woods, though. The reasons the Wachovia and the Players are important tournaments is that most everybody plays them, and the courses are interesting, challenging and fair. That's a rare triple play when it comes to many modern courses.
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