What winners at St. Andrews have had in common is a championship pedigree.

Luol Deng slashed to the basket, all speed and stealth, undaunted by the championship pedigree of the Miami Heat.

Fans nominated towns and cities across the country based on their championship pedigree.

The Koehls used this kitten and her offspring to develop a new breed of cat called the LaPerm, which went on to become a popular, established, championship pedigree cat breed around the world.

In his matter-of-fact but pointed way, Jeter rejected the idea that the Yanks had a championship pedigree because they had accomplished so much.

Russell Redux is, in essence, a product relaunch designed to emphasize Russell's championship pedigree, not to deal with his image, ingrained with the public as enigmatic and aloof.

All must race against a thoroughbred of championship pedigree owned by a wealthy man (Coleman) who has no intention of seeing his entry lose.

For decades, the P.G.A. Championship was always the fourth major, if not the forgotten major, played mostly on lesser courses with virtually no championship pedigree.

And then there is the third type of golf tourist, for whom a course's rating or championship pedigree is barely relevant.

Baylor has the most talent, Missouri has the most momentum, Kansas has the championship pedigree and Kansas State has all the makings of a gritty contender as the race for a Big 12 regular season title gets underway.