The Hole Story by Craig DeVrieze

We have found Tiger Woods’ kryptonite and its name is Lillybeck.

Because Woods was in the midst of a winning streak that possibly could challenge Byron Nelson’s record 11 straight PGA Tour wins in 1945 and because my buddy Steve had a line on tickets to the CA Championship at Doral, I encouraged him to take advantage of this opportunity to see history in the making.

So he and his lovely wife Sue made the trek from their new digs in West Palm Beach to Miami Saturday morning to see Tiger in action.

Woods, who was thick in the hunt through two rounds, promptly hit the bogey train and his third round 72 was the difference as Woods finished in fifth place, two shots back of Geoff Ogilvy.

Interestingly, the last time Steve and Sue set foot on a golf course for a PGA Tour event was the final round of the 1996 Quad-City Classic when — hmmmm — Tiger Woods shot 72 and finished fifth after leading through the second and third rounds.

I figure the Lillybecks stepped onto the Oakwood property about the time Woods was duck-hooking his tee shot into the pond on the fourth hole.

Yup. They are kryptonite to golf’s Superman.

Betcha Phil Mickelson would be happy to pay their way to Augusta in a couple of weeks.

Here’s the open/closed status of area public golf courses as the season closes in. We’ll try to update this on a regular basis in the Times over the next couple of weeks.

Public course log

Open now

Credit Island

Muscatine Municipal (no carts)

Palmer Hills (carts on paths)

Saukie (winter greens, no carts)

Rustic Ridge (no carts)