On your PGA Championship office pool, did you give Tiger Woods a chance to win?

So I just finished filling out my office pool for the 2011 PGA Championship which begins tomorrow on the Highlands Course at Atlanta Athletic Club. From the structure of our pool to the fact I never win, it’s always the same: The field in a major is divided up into three flights; you pick two names from each and if your six golfers combine for the most prize money, you win.

Naturally, if he’s in the field, Tiger Woods is always listed in that first flight along with the tour’s other heavyweights.

This year, for the first time I can remember, I didn’t pick Tiger. Didn’t even consider him, really.

It was a recent blog post from the National Golf Foundation that got me to thinking about why. The post said “it is the isolated and complicated space between [Woods’] ears that holds the key to his future.”

I tend to agree with the writer, Greg Nathan (AKA the Mayor of Crazy Town). However, that gives me less confidence that Tiger can return to peak form, not more.

Thinking about Tiger’s mind brought to my mind something prescient I read in 2006 when a dashing young golf writer – in the wake of Tiger’s U.S. Open meltdown shortly after his father died – wrote:

I am wondering … if this tells us anything about how he handles stressful situations.

Think about it, most of life’s complications lie ahead of Tiger, not behind. I mean, he got married and he lost one parent, that’s it. With any luck it’ll be many many years before his mother or in-laws have any health complications. And I pray any children he and Elin bear will be in perfect health and never cause any worry. And hopefully his marriage and business matters will remain problem free.

Life rarely works out perfectly, however, even for the most charmed individuals. There are ups and downs for all of us. How will Tiger handle the downs still to come?

Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major victories looks even more remarkable of late. And if Thursday and Friday at Winged Foot were any indication, it might be more safe than we once thought.

So, guys, where do you have Tiger finishing on your office pool? And do you still think he’ll pass Jack?