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Money doesn't exist on quite the same scale for Tiger Woods that it does for the rest of us (novelty checks at the supermarket aside), but even for a global endorsement behemoth, $10 million is a significant deposit in the old savings account.

Nevertheless, we can't help wondering if Woods is so much of a competitor that he'd trade the $10 million he won for finishing second Sunday in the Tour Championship if it meant displacing Phil Mickelson at the top of the leaderboard?

Sure, there's some shaky logic behind the question -- namely, if Woods had beaten Mickelson over four rounds at the Tour Championship, he would have won the $10 million FedEx Cup loot anyway. But it's not as if golf's playoff system makes much sense in the first place, so what's one more leap of logic?

• Vote: How many majors will Tiger Woods win in 2010?

“

This result sort of epitomizes these two in my mind. Mickelson has stretches where he is an absolute wizard out there...but only stretches; Tiger is consistently superior.

” -- atomicdog52

“

While I'm happy that Tiger won the Fed Ex cup, i'm beginning to think that the Tiger with the killer instint is gone.

” -- Tune7

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd are listed as probable on the "SportsNation" TV injured list. Go ahead and start them on your fantasy team this week.

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPNEWS at 4 p.m. and ESPN2 at midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

Who has the better fist pump?
Does Rafael Nadal, king of clay and thorn in Roger Federer's side, or Tiger Woods, rival of Ernie Els, have the better celebratory gesture?

How many games will the Cowboys win this season?
More than nine? Fewer than nine? Nine exactly? Emmitt Smith pegs the team at seven wins if the coach and QB don't improve.

Is Memphis a good fit for Allen Iverson?
A.I., using that newfangled Twitter service, said Wednesday that he's going to play for the Grizzlies. One fan predicted a team that averages zero assists.

Will Brett Favre start 16 regular-season games?
The Vikings were quick to toss their other QBs under the bus for him, and he's only one game from a tie for the NFL's longest games played streak.

Which team will win the Titans-Steelers game?
LenDale White is unapologetic for stomping on the Terrible Towel last season, which has Steelers fans frothing at the mouth.

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd always shake hands before stepping on the set of "SportsNation" TV.

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPNEWS at 4 p.m. and ESPN2 at midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

Would you let Shaq spank you on your birthday?
In a hands-on interview, Shaq administered the birthday spanking for radio host "Money" from the "Petros & Money Show."

Should LeGarrette Blount be kicked off the Oregon football team?
Replays of the Oregon running back's punching Boise State linebacker Byron Hout after the Ducks' loss will be shown all season.

Are the Eagles too consumed with Michael Vick?
He'll be eligible in Week 3. In his final preseason game, Vick ran for a 2-yard touchdown, was sacked four times, lost a fumble and was intercepted.

Should Oklahoma State and Georgia shake hands before their football game?
The Cowboys won't have a team handshake with the Bulldogs, citing concerns about incidents that might erupt during the display of sportsmanship.

What do you think of Tiger Woods' criticism of Ernie Els?
Els said he had a three-year plan for dethroning Tiger but hasn't won in his past 41 tournaments. Tiger said his opponent hasn't worked hard enough.

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

• Vote: Is Usain Bolt on the track more fun to watch than Tiger Woods on the links?

Is it more impressive to dominate a sport's biggest events 19 times over a matter of decades or push the limits of human performance for 19 seconds?

Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships in golf once seemed unbreakable. And as recently as 1996, when Michael Johnson's time of 19.66 finally pushed the 200-meter record lower for the first time in nearly 17 years, covering that distance in 18.99 seconds ranked right up there on the probability scales with manned space flight beyond the solar system.

And while neither 19 majors nor 19 seconds is a lock, having Tiger Woods and Usain Bolt, respectively, around makes those marks seem much more attainable. The latest volley came from Bolt, who lowered his own record by more than a tenth of a second to 19.19 in winning the final at the world championships.

• 61 percent of SportsNation would be more interested in Bolt if he was American.
• 61 percent also believe Devin Hester would fare better in track than Bolt in the NFL.
• 54 percent of SportsNation believes nobody will ever beat Bolt in a major final.

“

Usain Bolt can type 190 words per minute. On his cell phone.

” -- PM_TEZ

“

Could he do to some extent for Track what Tiger has done for Golf? I love him....he's flippin AWESOME!

” -- dubsoldier001

“

I'm not arguing who's the best athlete in the world. Someone mentioned Phelps and Bolt and asked who else dominates their sport. It's Tiger and Federer. Tiger wins on average 30% of all of the tournaments he enters. That's an insane number and no golfer is ever close to that number Saying that he lost at the PGA is irrelevant. 1 tournament, major or not, doesn't mean your career is on a downturn.

” -- tybae40

If the "SportsNation" TV set were big enough, Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle would take a shot at the 9.58-second 100-meter world record during the show today.

Argue the hot topics, vote on the biggest stories and chat during the show on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of afternoon ET.

Whom were you rooting for in the PGA Championship yesterday?
Y.E. Yang isn't exactly a household name, but there are plenty of fans who now cheer against Tiger Woods. Which camp do you fall in?

Are the Eagles Super Bowl contenders?
The Eagles have added Michael Vick and youngsters with playmaker potential, but that doesn't mean they can take it easy in the NFC East.

Is Brett Favre coming back?
The Vikings quarterbacks have done nothing to kill rumors that he still might return. We're beginning to wonder whether he's a legend or a zombie.

What do you think of shaking hands before a game?
The American Football Coaches Association and NCAA are encouraging schools to arrange teamwide handshakes on the field before kickoff.

Would you recognize Bob Dylan walking down the street?
The times they are a changin'. It's the the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, and many of us were at least exposed to folk by our parents. What about you?

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

• Vote: What does Sunday's final round portend for Y.E. Yang and Tiger Woods?

Who knew there was a golfer out there capable of challenging Tiger Woods? No, not during the final round of a major. That had to happen eventually, right? We're talking about a golfer who could challenge Woods as an inspiration for headline writers and broadcasters to explore new depths of punning (we're looking your way, Mr. Butler Cabin).

SportsNation respects Y.E. Yang's accomplishment in coming from behind to beat Woods Sunday in the PGA Championship. Roughly a third of voters even think the heretofore unknown pro will win another major, which is better than Lucas Glover fared after winning the U.S. Open. But to some degree, the tournament is as much about Woods losing as Yang winning. And if you think that's unfair to the apparently affable South Korean who lifted his bag like it was the Stanley Cup in triumph, well, you probably have a point. If you think it's a media creation, you just have your head in the sand.

Before the tournament, 63 percent of SportsNation said Woods' season would be a success with or without a major title. But that obviously didn't factor in what many will see as a collapse on Sunday. So will popular opinion on Woods' dominance fade? Don't count on it.

• Only 36 percent of SportsNation believes Woods' inevitable decline has begun.
• More than 50 percent of SportsNation predicts at least two majors for Woods in 2010.
• Most voters enjoyed Tom Watson's British run more than Yang's PGA upset.
• Chat: Page 2 columnist Jemele Hill talks sports at 12 p.m. ET

“

Sigh its reasons like this why golf loses the little crediblity it has. Your championship, or should i say one of is won by some guy named yang who i imagine even in people in the know have at best a passing familiarity with. Cmon that would be like the 2009 San Diego Padres winning the World Series, or the current Detriot lions winning the superbowl. And no this yang wont win another championship let alone probably another pga tournmanet.

” -- Loki the Krown Klownk

“

It was a choke, if TW's name was Greg Norman you know what they would call it.

” -- SpeedyMcGreedys

• Voting open on the Open Championship.

As second-round play got under way at the Open Championship, SportsNation offered by a wide margin that it would sooner follow Tiger Woods' group than Tom Watson's group around Turnberry. In retrospect, maybe that majority just had an inkling it would be its final chance to see Woods in this year's event (or maybe not).

Tiger is out of the tournament, and Watson is atop the leaderboard after 36 holes, which is the equivalent of John McEnroe advancing to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and Roger Federer bowing out in his second match. It's the equivalent of Carl Lewis coming out of retirement to blow past Usain Bolt in the 100 meters. It's the equivalent of some young Hollywood hotshot losing Catherine Zeta-Jones to Michael Douglas … all right, so it's not completely without precedent.

Voters still aren't ready to hand the Claret Jug to Watson, who at age 59 would be the oldest major winner by more than a decade. But they are more favorably inclined than after his opening-round 65.

• Before we worry about the apocalypse, voters still say Tiger's No. 1.
• Beyond the Nation: The man, the myth, the blogging legend -- Jason Sobel

“

I'll be kind of glad if Tiger misses the cut. I'm kinda Tigered out. There are other people who play professional golf.

” -- tybae40

“

Tiger this what happens when you only play 8 tournaments a year. Tiger is the biggest sell-out in professional sports. He is a gazzillionaire and could care less about the fans and the game. Come on Tom!!

” -- jdelaw12

• Vote on the opening round as it continues.

As ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski revealed this week, Tiger Woods lets caddy Steve Williams -- a Kiwi used to driving on the wrong side of the road -- handle the driving when Team Tiger hits the British Isles. But unless they rented a DeLorean, Woods isn't going to be able to match Tom Watson's experience at Turnberry.

When Watson fired a first-round 68 at the course in 1977 en route to victory, Woods hadn't yet celebrated his second birthday (granted, he probably still had a better handicap than 95 percent of us). And with what appeared on television to be rather serene conditions, Watson turned all that knowledge into a first-round 65 and the early lead in this year's Open Championship.

Watson hits the big 60 (age, not score) in a couple of months, which is why he wasn't even a candidate when SportsNation ranked its top Open contenders. And while a majority of SportsNation would still rather see Woods hoist the Claret Jug, anyone who can take close to 40 percent of the vote from him in anything is doing something right.

Edit (11:05 a.m. ET): Maybe Watson sticks around for a Sunday charge, or maybe he doesn't. But he put together a run on Woods after both were off the course. Early on, a majority wanted Woods to win more than Watson. But now? Not so much.

• SportsNation's early forecast for Watson calls for a top-10 finish.
• Chat: Bob Harig takes your questions live from Turnberry at 11 a.m. ET
• Beyond the 'Nation: The man, the myth, the blogging legend -- Jason Sobel

“

C'mon ESPN, get up a picture of Watson. What a story!

” -- spartygator

“

If the wind stays down under 20 mph, it will certainly favor Tiger. I can see where Sergio could have trouble making the cut.

” -- THE BOOTGUY

• Rank the British Open contenders.

Whether you call it the Open Championship, the British Open, or the thing with all the gorse, the oldest major in golf is back. And so is the man who may eventually hold more major titles than anyone since the first Scot grabbed a niblick and knocked his feathery stiff (that last sentence was actually suitable for family consumption, believe it or not).

Tiger Woods is back after a year's injury-induced hiatus from the British Open, and the tournament is back at Turnberry in Scotland for the first time since before he turned pro.

Not surprisingly, Woods is SportsNation's favorite against the field, although the close call in voting is more evidence we're not convinced he's as good as ever after knee surgery.

But Woods is not the only new face at the top of the expectations leaderboard. SportsNation's top five for last year's tournament went as follows: Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Adam Scott and Jim Furyk. Mickelson is absent for family reasons, but of the other four, only Furyk remains in the 'Nation's early top five this year.

• Beyond the 'Nation: Gene Wojciechowski talks haggis, rain and the British Open.
• SportsNation groups: Club Tiger | Golf | Tiger Woods Fans

“

I have a hard time calling [Tiger's first-round playing partner] Ishi a "phenom." He's been nothing exciting on the PGA Tour ... Winning on the Japan Tour is nice, but it's still the Japan Tour. I wish it was Tiger, Paul Casey, and Rory Mcilroy ... That'd be an exciting group. With this grouping ... I see Westwood shooting average rounds, Ryo missing the cut, and Tiger playing great.

” -- JETsrunway

“

[Wojciechowski's] article describes how I feel about the Open. The history, the quirkiness, the weather ... it the ultimate experience for a golf nut like myself. I look forward to the day when I can see the Open Championship in person.

” -- RoMizzou

OK, so maybe the old man won't be snoring until after his big Father's Day lunch tomorrow, but rain is definitely affecting the U.S. Open. The weather held through the completion of the second round Saturday, but rain is sprinkling those on the Bethpage Black for the third round.

Ricky Barnes avoided getting buried in the mud, shooting an 36-hole record of 8-under 132. Tiger Woods is 11 strokes back, and the majority of SportsNation is now picking the field.