PGA Tour Players Criticized For Skipping Byron Nelson

Writers Criticize Woods For Skipping EDS Byron Nelson Championship

Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh will be the only top-ten players in this week’s PGA Tour EDS Byron Nelson Championship, and the absence of Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and others is “sad” and “disrespectful,” according to Bill Nichols of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Nelson died last September, and Nichols wrote, “Apparently, paying respect by playing the Nelson ended when the legend died.” Woods had missed the event only twice since ’97 –- to defend his title at the conflicting Deutsche Bank Championship in ’03 and because of his father’s death last year (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/21). In San Antonio, Richard Oliver wrote under the header, “Top Golfers Disrespect Nelson By Skipping Legend’s Event.” While Woods said he admired Nelson, “with an opportunity to pay his final respects, those claims ring hollow” (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 4/23). In Ft. Worth, Gil LeBreton wrote under the header, “Shame On Tiger For Snubbing Lord Byron.” LeBreton: “It would have been a classy, respectful gesture on the pros’ part, one would think, to participate in the first tournament since the great Nelson’s death” (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/22).

LADIES’ TEES: In Providence, Paul Kenyon wrote getting LPGAers Juli Inkster and Natalie Gulbis to participate in the CVS Charity Classic “is a stroke of genius.” PGA Tour players Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade run the tournament, which is held in Rhode Island in June and is not an official Tour event. Faxon said Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel all declined to invitations to play. Faxon noted CVS’ customer base is 68-70% women, adding, “I don’t think it’s going to bring CVS more business because women are in this tournament, but I think it will bring more exposure television-wise” (PROV. JOURNAL, 4/22).

POINT GUARD: PGA Tour Senior VP/Brand Marketing Ric Clarson said of the first season of the FedEx Cup, “At this stage, there’s nothing absolutely identifiable that we think needs changing. But we won’t know until we get done and evaluate in the fall.” But Mickelson last month said, “Players are still in the mindset of [the] money list, and it’s going to take a while for the players to change the way they view it. But in the end I think it’s good that we have a season that culminates with some type of finale” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/23).