As noted earlier here, the Shell Houston Open had its best field in decades earlier this month when it was played the week before the Masters. Based on the World Golf Rankings, 15 of the top 20 players, and 21 of the top 30 played in the SHO, including No. 2 Phil Mickelson, No. 3 Sergio Garcia, No. 5 Padraig Harrigton and No. 6 Vijay Singh.

Just three years ago, when the SHO was being played in the slot two weeks after the Masters, Only two of the top 10 players in the World Rankings played and only ten others in the top 60 of the World Rankings bothered to show up.

This year, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has the slot two weeks after the Masters that the SHO used to inhabit. Only one of the top 10 players in the World Rankings is playing — Kenny Perry (5) — and only two more of the World top 20 are in the field, Steve Stricker (12) and Mike Weir (20). And that’s even with New Orleans offering arguably the best cuisine of any event on the PGA Tour.

Timing is everything in the Tiger Chasm.