Courtesy: answers.com

Mount Everest has featured in the news lately, largely because it is the penultimate stop for the Olympic torch on its troubled journey to Beijing for this summer's Olympic Games.

The torch will be carried to the peak from the north side - ironically, that is in Tibet which has been the scene of much anti-China protest in recent months.

The torch at the peak of Everest may represent a pinnacle of achievement for China but I like what Robert Vaughn (no, not The Man from UNCLE) did last May.

There's lots of ink still being spilled over Tiger Woods' recent knee surgery.

Tim Rosaforte brings his usual detailed and well researched efforts to a background piece on Woods and his troubling history of knee problems - specifically, his weakened left knee, which has now undergone three operations in just over 14 years.

Courtesy: Salem News

Lorena Ochoa is quietly putting together a season that has already surpassed Tiger's.

Ochoa has one major under her belt this season, the Kraft Nabisco. She has won three straight tournaments in three straight weeks, as well.

Now, she's looking to make it four out of four and her fifth victory in six starts.

That is absolutely phenomenal golf from anyone, even Tiger Woods.

Ochoa grabbed a one shot lead at the Ginn Open yesterday, an ominous sign for the rest of the field.

In Woods-like fashion, Ochoa has won every single time in 2008 when she was leading after round three.

Here's another number to chew on: 15 out of 22 times Ochoa has sealed the deal when she was at least sharing the lead heading into the final round.

And like Tiger, Lorena Ochoa has vowed to win every major on tour this season.

Unlike Woods, Ochoa is still on track to pull that off.

How ridiculous that not a single club manufacturer has offered her a contract.

But when one of them does, it better be a big one. She deserves it.

Do we now know the reason behind Tiger Woods' up and down tournament at the Masters?

Up and down for Tiger meant 12 birdies and an eagle combined with 11 bogeys, excellent by normal standards around Augusta.

Immediately following the Masters, Tiger underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee, as we all know.

Tim Finchem likes the idea of golf returning as an Olympic sport.

He likes it so much that he has made his views official, i.e. public, the first step in gathering support for the idea.

In fact, in order for the International Olympic Committee to even consider the idea - which wouldn't happen before next year and only for the 2016 Games at the earliest - it has to be formally presented by the recognized world body of golf, the International Golf Federation.

Fortunately, the IGF federation is run by David Fay, USGA executive director and the chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, Peter Dawson.

Fay says the IOC will not even glance at a proposal unless every major tour organization backs it.

Courtesy: Element 21

In November of 2006, a Russian cosmonaut whacked a golf ball off the International Space Station.

It was a publicity stunt, as you can well imagine, for a company called Element 21.

The golf ball, by the way, is still orbiting the earth. Call it permanent hang-time.

At any rate, the point of the exercise was to promote the company's new line of golf clubs using a metal called scandium. The metal is literally space age and is found widely on the Space Station itself.

"Element 21" comes from the fact that scandium is found on the periodic table at, well, number 21.

The company stated that scandium is far superior to titanium, up 'til now the best material for metal woods and drivers. It is also more accurate than steel and longer than graphite, the company says. Element 21 is also manufacturing irons with the stuff.

It launched its new club line early last year with much fanfare and some terrific offers to amateur golfers.

Courtesy: AP

The Grand Slam is safe for another year. That's just one outcome from yesterday's nail-biting final round at the Masters. And maybe the least important one.

Augusta National allowed another first-time winner to walk off the 18th green triumphant but humbled by what surely remains one of the finest and toughest layouts in the world. Year after year.

Remember the hue and cry last year - and the year before - about the changes to Augusta that were "destroying" the character of the course?

Sorry, I don't buy it. Augusta is the sternest challenge for any professional anywhere, any time, apart from a U.S. Open setup.

Tiger was right when he said after his Thursday round that playing Augusta now was like playing the U.S. Open.

That was proved again yesterday when the winds made club selection a lottery and swept the remaining molecules of moisture from the surface of the greens.