The more we expect from the best golfers, the less we get

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Tiger Woods looked to be in contention at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic until shooting 72-75 over the weekend.

Sometimes we just expect too much.

Most of the time, actually.

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How many years have we talked about Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson going head-to-head and side-by-side down the stretch for a major championship? Well, every major championship? How often over the last decade have golf fans wondered if anyone would ever step up and challenge Tiger? If Phil would be No. 1? If Ernie Els was the rival? Or Vijay Singh?

If . . . well, you get the idea.

So it made perfect sense that all our eyes were on Dubai last week for the glam pairing of Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Woods. Where we expected, what? A trio of 65s? One of the three to fly past the other two? Tiger's second-round 66 got us thinking. So did Saturday night when it couldn't have lined up much better. Rory McIlroy in the lead. Tiger and Sergio Garcia a shot back. Westwood close enough to make a run. Kaymer just there.

And Pebble Beach? We checked in at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for two things -- the scenery and to see just what goofy thing Bill Murray was going to do next. Even Dustin Johnson's chance at a three-fer seemed like a yawn compared to what could happen in Dubai.

Yet two days after the fact, we're still marveling about Murray's Cinderella story. Still throwing out Carl Spackler lines and popping Caddyshack in the DVD player. When, after all, was the last time a former caddie channeling his own iconic caddie character upstaged the best players in the world? With gregarious first-time winner D.A. Points by his side? Talk about a feel-good story or two.

And Dubai? Total letdown. Erratic but camera-ready -- how about those sideburns? --- bomber Alvaro Quiros throws a 1 and a 7 onto a final-round card to beat the three top players in the Official World Golf Ranking. While the world's best, who had our attention Thursday, showed us just how much work they still have to do.

Westwood was low star, finishing 6 shots behind Quiros. Tiger and Garcia were another shot back. Kaymer? He finished 9 back.

Golf just doesn't lend itself to a Kansas vs. Texas on the hardwood court on-demand battle. Too many variables. No defense. No logic.

How does a player make everything he looks at one day and nothing the next? How can a swing be so grooved on the range and so insolent on the course? How can the best in the world play more like what you'd expect from, say, No. 250 on one of his great weeks?

Our point? Don't expect anything. Don't put a time frame on a swing change or a game to come together. Yes, Augusta would be a nice target date, but we should know better.

We're already looking at the potential first-round matches for the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play. Will we get a star-studded Final Four? Instead, you might try wondering if all the stars will get past the first round.

The more we expect, the less we get. Tiger spoiled us, no question. He was, for so long, as close to a sure thing as golf has ever had. But nothing is written in stone. Just look at what happened last season.

Today, we jump onto whatever trending topic strikes us. Twitter is great for snappy lines, not for in-depth analysis or even all-the-facts in 140 characters. Are you a Tiger gal/guy or a Phil gal/guy? Side with the young-and-restless or the veterans?

It's fun to have headline pairings in the first two rounds and headliners, period, in the fields. But don't get too caught up. Tiger may own Torrey Pines, just not this year. Phil may be headed for another green jacket, but his form isn't there yet.

If we learned nothing last week, it was that the game's biggest names still have ragged edges on their games. Tiger's is there in spurts, but, so far, none of those spurts have come in the final round. Mickelson? He'll be fine once his putter settles down. Garcia? One step forward, another one back.

This week, you can talk all you want about Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Freddie Couples at Riviera or defending Northern Trust Open champ Steve Stricker, but don't take your eye off Mark Wilson, Jhonattan Vegas or even Steve Elkington.

And next week? Fill out your bracket, but keep an eye just below that top 3. Think about two-time runner-up Paul Casey. Or Ian Poulter.

The 2011 season has been one of surprises. Vegas breaking through -- and charming two nations -- at the Bob Hope Classic and almost again the next week. Wilson winning twice. Jonathan Byrd. Bubba Watson. Points.

None of them have been No. 1. None regularly make the short lists at majors. Or have a million followers on Twitter. All of them do have great stories and bright futures.

We didn't expect them. The weren't even a thought at the start of each week. Now -- well, after those boldfaced names -- they are.

One of the best things about this game is how there's always a surprise around the corner. A gotcha. A where-did-that-come-from. Think Jack Nicklaus at the 1986 Masters or Ben Crenshaw in 1995. The last three majors of 2010. And, yes, we could go on.

But we'll leave you with a great reason to keep an open mind. To expect the unexpected. To let things unfold rather than lay out a script you want them to follow. To stop getting caught up in what didn't happen and embrace what did.

Last week, people were quick to walk up to Points and say, sorry you got the short end of the stick. Sorry you drew crazy Bill Murray, the distraction. Sorry, the parentheses seemed to say, you don't have a snowballs chance.

Points didn't understand. Still doesn't.

"Why does everybody get so worked up, thinking (Murray's) this big distraction?'' Points said. "He seemed to just have fun and taught me to go ahead and have a little fun. And, in turn, it distracted me from trying too hard. It kept me more loose and having a good time with Bill.''

Points went in with no expectations and came out with what pretty much qualifies as the world for a Nationwide Tour grad. A PGA TOUR win. A trip to Augusta. A two-year exemption. An AT&T amateur partner for life. Great stories to tell -- handing out donuts and ice cream with Murray during a round is just a start.

Just imagine if he'd followed the so-sorry trending topic and bought into everyone else's expectations.

Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM and can be reached at melaniehauser@gmail.com. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. Follow her on Twitter @melaniehauser.