Years from now when time reveals the ultimate cost-risk analysis of Tiger Woods’ phenomenal victory at the 108th U.S. Open, how will history record the story of this chapter of this amazing performer’s athletic life?

Today I know how we see it. In my entirely unscientific research of various local driving ranges, golf courses, clubhouses and pro shops, the verdict is already in. In the present, we see it simply as the most brilliant run of his legendary career.

We see it as the chapter that elevated Woods for sure (as if he wasn’t already up there) to that narrow Mount Rushmore where only the most insanely gifted, maniacally driven and most telegenic athletes dwell. During the past few days, between swings and swigs, the conversation was all the same as we began to comprehend fully what Woods had done and what he was willing to sacrifice for that costly victory in the U.S. Open championship.

Every sports-loving soul and casual fan I spoke to was operating under the assumption that the 32-year-old Woods will fully recover from the trauma he put his body through as he won his 14th major title on a bum left leg that was damaged by stress fractures to his tibia and a torn ligament in his knee that is forcing him to end his ’08 season and has sidelined him indefinitely.

But there is no such thing as a sure thing when it comes to men, knees and surgeries. Who knows what version of Woods we’ll get the next time we see him on a golf course.

Could it be that Woods took on too much of a challenge this time? Who knows what lies ahead after months of difficult and uncertain rehabilitation. Will he come back stronger and better or will the knife cut out something more than damaged ligaments?

This much we already know: The PGA Tour’s popularity couldn’t have suffered a more harmful and uncertain blow. After giving us five dramatic days of Woods at his competitive and dramatic best – a show that drew record television ratings for NBC and ESPN – the game’s ultimate pied piper is gone.

Golf needs Tiger gone like I need another inch around my waist.

What we need to know is who or what’s going to fill the void. Golf has never been healthier as an industry. But now we need somebody to step in the enormous void left by Woods and become a compelling champion or at least a fascinating character. When Michael Jordan left basketball unexpectedly, we did miss him, but others took advantage to create their own legacies, TV commercials and MVP seasons.

Unfortunately, golf doesn’t have a lot of interesting people. Loads of great golfers, but not a lot of people who stand out in a crowd for reasons other than really bad clothing. They could rely on Phil Mickelson, but he’s nuts. He’s probably going to show up at the British Open with five drivers and six putters. The PGA needs to hire someone to restrain Lefty’s goofy tinkerings.

Mickelson is the No. 2 player in the world, so there are only two things that could make him more interesting. Stop taking insane risks on the course or just let all your Tin Cup moments out of the bag. Either way, Mickelson’s unpredictability could be the PGA’s best hope.