Peter Morrison / AP

Tiger Woods, who missed the tournament's weekend cut by one stroke, reacts after a shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the British Open on July 17.

Q: With Tom Watson’s runner-up finish in the British Open, he moved up to fourth in the Ryder Cup points standings — behind Lucas Glover, Stewart Cink and Phil Mickelson. Is it really possible that old man Watson could make the U.S. team in 2010?
— Anonymous

A: Possible? Yes. Is it also possible that someday we will all join together to hold hands and live in peace and harmony — it's just not likely. Watson does not play a PGA Tour schedule. The only events he'll play this year that earn Ryder Cup points are the Masters and the British Open. Watson could get an invite to the PGA, but his schedule probably won't accommodate it. He also doesn't figure to play in any PGA Tour related events other than those two majors next year.

Ryder Cup points are not awarded to players for performances in Champions Tour events. What's more, points double for prize money earned in next year's majors, the Ryder Cup year. So, while Tom Terrific has vaulted to fourth in the current 2010 Ryder Cup standings, he won't earn any more points this season. And unless he does something similarly spectacular in a major next year, he will fall out of the top 10.

That said, there are four at-large picks to the team. Thus, it is possible U.S. Captain Corey Pavin would add Watson, who will be 61 by the time they head to Wales. But the peace and harmony stuff is more likely to happen first.

Q: Is Stewart Cink’s win at the British Open a coming out victory for him, or is this just another in a line of major winners who will quietly disappear?
— Anonymous

A: Well now, that's the question, isn't it? When you consider the lack of follow-up by recent major winners like Rich Beem, Ben Curtis, Shaun Micheel, Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson, Michael Campbell, you have to wonder about first-time winner Cink.

However, Stewie falls into a different category. He has more qualifications for being a major force than some of those mentioned. The 36-year-old Cink was a star at Georgia Tech and in his first full professional season he won the Mexican Open and three events on the Nationwide Tour (then called the Nike Tour). He then became the first player ever to be named the Player of the Year on the Nationwide Tour and the Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour in successive seasons.

My guess is we will see more from Cink.

Cink had five previous PGA Tour wins before Turnberry and if not for a horrific three-putt on 72nd green at Southern Hills, he might have won the 2001 U.S. Open. Somewhat quietly, he is 10th on the career money list and has played in four Ryder Cups and three President's Cups. In short, Cink has been among the best players in the world for a while.

But that does not guarantee he will win more than one major. Tom Kite was among the top players and money winners on the PGA Tour for many years while winning only one major (1992 U.S. Open). Greg Norman was the No. 1 player in the world for some time, but never won a U.S. major.

My guess is Cink will be more prominent and he certainly deserves watching at Hazeltine.

Q: I was playing in a friendly game with some of my girlfriends when we came to the sixth hole, a 147-yard par-3. Two holes earlier, we had played a very similar par 3 in which my playing partner struck a perfect tee shot, landing it eight feet from the flag. So, on the tee at No. 6, I asked her what club she used at No. 4. Did I break a rule by asking her that question?
— Brandy Hansen, Oakville, Mo.

A: No. Technically speaking, a rule was not breached. Although, as a rule, I make it a practice to actually ask the other player to go ahead and hit my tee shot in those situations. But seriously, you are referring to USGA Rule 8-1 concerning “Advice.” According to decision 8-1/6, after you’ve hit your shot, you can ask a fellow competitor or opponent what he/she hit from the same area, even if the information might help you at a later hole.