Amos Bronson Alcott, one of America’s greatest philosophers and educators, knew the value of hard work and grim determination. “Success is sweet,” he said,”and sweeter if long delayed and gotten through many struggles and defeats.”

Bart Bryant can relate. After a decidedly mediocre career, one that had taken him back to the tour’s qualifying school six times and to the operating room several more (most recently in March 2003 when he underwent repair work to his right elbow), the nativeTexan is now the holder of two of the PGA Tour’s most prestigious titles. And, not insignificantly for a man who earned just under $900,000 in his first 18 years as a professional golfer, Bryant has banked more than $2.5 million in the last five months.

The 42-year-old put the seal on his incredible season at the East Lake Club in Atlanta on Sunday by adding the Tour Championship to the Memorial he won at Jack Nicklaus’s Muirfield Village in June.And he didn’t just scrape it.By perfecting the flying right elbow position in his backswing – the ever-so-slightly odd looking move that helps prevent a block to the right – Bryant led the field in driving accuracy (80.4%) and greens in regulation (80.6%). And with an average of 1.64 putts per GIR and no three-putts, Bryant ran out a convincing six shot winner over Tiger Woods.

Thirteen years behind Bryant but 43 PGA Tour wins ahead, Woods can have no complaints. He played well at East Lake, shooting in the 60s all four days on a tough par 70 that didn’t offer any easy birdies.For the season,he finished the year $2.6 million ahead of Vijay Singh on the money list, won his ninth and tenth major championships, and re-established a 7.3 point lead over Singh in the world rankings.

If Bryant’s easy win seemed an unusual end to the 2005 season, well, it was that kind of year. Eleven months ago, the top five golfers in the world rankings had built such a formidable house on the rocks that some pundits would have had you believe their position was impregnable – no one was leaving and no one was coming in.

Singh sat comfortably at the top of the table with a point-and-a-half lead over a prowling Tiger, who was showing unmistakable signs of a return to form after a jaded 2004. Behind them, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Retief Goosen all lined up for a legitimate crack at the top spot.

Ten months and 47 tournaments later, the top five- well, numbers two through five at least – are looking decidedly less stable.

Woods has had a hugely successful campaign, of course; a total of six wins and over $10 million in prize money have undoubtedly earned him Player of the Year honors for the sixth time. But even more significant perhaps, especially when considering what might happen in the next few years,was the way his rivals answered questions throughout the year relating to his return to form. At times, you couldn’t mistake the fear in their voices. It was like 2000 all over again.

Singh, meanwhile, wasn’t half the player he was in 2004. Four victories kept him in second place on the money list, but his putting was wretched at times – he currently ranks 60th on tour in putting average – and the dominance he enjoyed for two outstanding years has seemingly evaporated. On top of his balky putting there was also speculation that he has been eating his way out of contention.In the last month or two, the Fijian has undoubtedly looked heavier than he did at the end of last year and, while no one is counting,some have even noticed he’s hitting fewer balls on the range.

Mickelson, who skipped the Tour Championships after calling the season finale “anticlimactic” earlier in the year, won his second major at the PGA, of course, but again failed to grab as much of the spotlight as he would have liked. His win at Baltusrol was offset by a disappointing final round at Augusta National and similarly inadequate performances at the U.S. and British Opens.

As for Goosen, the gritting of teeth and rolling of eyes during a poor third round at October’s Chrysler Championship not only showed the poker-faced South African does have a soul, but also revealed his frustration at another weekend collapse.He did manage a victory on either side of the Atlantic after disastrous closing rounds at the U.S. and British Opens, but his failure in the fourth round in Atlanta over the weekend, in which he faded to a 74 and a fourth-place tie, had an all-to-familiar look about it and epitomized what for him will rate as a year to forget.

For Bryant, though, this season will live long in the memory. He could never have predicted the sort of success he’s enjoyed in 2005, a year in which he joined the big leagues and elevated his status to potential major champion. “Every week, I feel like I belong more and more where I am,” he said at his winner’s press conference. But Bryant didn’t just belong on the Tour this weekend, he owned it.

Let’s see if we’re still talking about him this time next year.