You want the next Ben Hogan story? Forget Tiger and watch Stacy Lewis

EDINA, Minn. (June 29, 2008) - Tiger Woods received a lot of Ben Hogan comparisons during his gutsy, but hardly courageous U.S. Open win at Torrey Pines. Which is like comparing the years of his career Ted Williams missed to serve his country to the year of his career PacMan Jones missed because he likes to throw money into the air at strip clubs - and get enraged if any of the strippers reach down to grab it.

To his credit, even after Tiger won his 14th major and let the news out about his season-ending knee surgery, he dismissed any Hogan talk himself. “I was not in as bad shape as Ben Hogan,” he said. “Geez, he was in the hospital and didn’t know if he’d ever walk again.”

So for the final time, Tiger is no Ben Hogan. But, don’t look now (and many of you aren’t with the U.S. Women’s Open receiving about one one hundredth of the coverage of the men’s Open), but there is a real Ben Hogan-worthy story in major pro golf.

That’s Stacy Lewis, your leader going into today’s final pairing, which is about 15 minutes from teeing off. When you’ve had to wear a back brace for seven and 1/2 years around 18 hours a day, went through six hours of surgery to get a metal rod and five screws put in your back and dealt with scoliosis almost your entire life, you’re in the Ben Hogan league.

As long as you follow through and win the thing of course.

For more on Stacy Lewis’, check out the full story on the front of WorldGolf.com. You’ll also get a column on how Paula Creamer is fine with sexy, but knows that sexy and a major championship means major crossover appeal - and also hear about Creamer’s refreshing brow beating of her caddie.