British Open Tees Off Without Tiger, But His Presence Remains
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Players At British Open Answering Questions
About Tiger Woods' Absence During Interviews |
The British Open began today at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, and while golfer Tiger Woods is not physically in attendance, there "remains this aura effect about him," as his "presence is everywhere," according to Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN.com. Woods is "not [there], but he is -- no matter how hard" the players try to avoid it. The event "hasn't been devalued, but the dynamic of the tournament ... has been altered by Woods' absence." Golfer Geoff Ogilvy jokingly said, "I just hope they've taught the engraver how to put an asterisk on the (Claret Jug). Then everyone will know what the tournament was all about" (ESPN.com, 7/16). In DC, Leonard Shapiro notes Woods' image has "been plastered all over a series of brightly colored banners hanging from lampposts on the streets leading to the golf course." And the fact that Woods is "not playing in a major championship for the first time since 1996 dominated the questioning of almost every player passing through for a pre-tournament interview" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/17). In N.Y., Christopher Clarey writes, "Even in absentia, Woods remains the talk of the tournament, with nearly every interview session featuring at least one and usually several queries about the meaning of life after Woods" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/17). In London, James Corrigan noted there was "something of an eerie feel to the beginning" of the week without Woods (London INDEPENDENT, 7/15). GOLF.com's Cameron Morfit wrote, "This Open will be devalued in the history books because you can't subtract the greatest player the game has ever seen and have a victory mean the same thing" (GOLF.com, 7/16). In Oakland, Art Spander wrote under the header, "British Won't Be The Same Without You Know Who." Woods is the "primary star in a sporting system built on stars, the person who transcends his game." But golfer Mark O'Meara said that "no man is more important than the sport." Spander: "The Open will go on. Golf will go forward" (INSIDEBAYAREA.com, 7/14).
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| Garcia Says Open Is Larger Than Any One Golfer |
TIGER NOT BIGGER THAN THE OPEN: In San Diego, Tod Leonard wrote the British Open is "105 years older than Woods, so don't fault the British if they are a little bemused by all the American hand-wringing about the dire state of golf without its Tiger." European sports agent Andrew "Chubby" Chandler: "I really feel that, when the gun goes off, no one will notice Tiger isn't there. ... There will be zero economic impact." Leonard wrote, "In America, there will be people who won't watch a stroke of the British because Woods isn't there. But those are the same people who won't tune into the PGA Tour without Woods. They are Tiger fans; not golf fans" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/15). In Houston, Jerome Solomon writes under the header, "No Tiger, No [Asterisk] Needed For British Open" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/17). Golfer Sergio Garcia: "With all due respect, the Open is bigger than any of us, even Tiger Woods. ... Nobody is bigger than the tournament itself" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/15).
PLAYERS NOT CONCERNED: Golfer Lee Westwood: "When it goes down in the history books, there won't be a note beside it to say that Tiger didn't participate" (TORONTO SUN, 7/16). Golfer Jim Furyk: "Let's put it this way: Whoever (wins) here, 20 years from now they're not going to say, 'Well, he was the British Open champion in 2008 but, by the way, Tiger Woods wasn't there'" (ESPN.com, 7/16). But golfer Justin Rose noted, "When you take the best player out of the equation, your odds go up." Golfer Colin Montgomerie: "The door is a little wider open than it has been in the past because Tiger is not playing." Golfer Ernie Els jokingly said of Woods, "I'm not overly disappointed that he's not here" (USA TODAY, 7/16).
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