Tiger out of tourney line-up
FARMINGTON – The 84 Lumber Classic will have its lions. Changes over the past 11 months should also force golfers to deal with a bear of a course.
But to the sure lament of golf fans, a once-promised Tiger will no longer be part of the show.
Oh my.
The Herald-Standard learned late Monday evening that Tiger Woods, who sat atop the world golf rankings for a record 264 weeks, has pulled out of the 84 Lumber Classic, denying fans eager to see a head-to-head battle with the man who recently supplanted Woods at No. 1, Vijay Singh.
“Certainly, we’re disappointed he’s not coming,” said 84 Lumber Classic spokesman Jeff Nobers. “We understand this is the nature of a PGA Tour event. Players do have the right to withdraw on a medical reason they must state to the tour. That’s the nature of an event.”
On the PGA Tour’s official Web site, the 84 Lumber Classic commitment list was updated at 3:21 p.m. Monday and Woods’ name was absent.
A PGA Tour official later confirmed, “Tiger Woods has indeed withdrawn.”
There is speculation Woods withdrew from this week’s tournament just four days after officially committing because of exhaustion.
He has played five events over the past two months, including this past weekend’s Ryder Cup in Bloomfield, Mich., where he and his United States teammates were handed their worst-ever defeat by Europe.
Woods’ official Web site on Monday said he would “tackle New York on Tuesday, when he does a whirlwind media tour of the Big Apple to promote his new Electronic Arts sports video game ‘Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005.'”
Slated to begin his day on the CBS Early Show, Woods is also scheduled to visit “Live with Regis & Kelly,” where he will be joined by presidential candidate John Kerry.
Later, Woods’ Web site reports he will appear live on ESPN Sports Center and ESPN News, then will stop by “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” as well as do interviews with Access Hollywood, Fox News, BET Sports, the New York Times, Time and Reuters.
Woods is quoted on his Web site saying, “I’m very excited about it. It should be a fun and full day. Hopefully, I can hold my own playing this video game.”
Despite Woods’ absence, the 84 Lumber Classic should be able to hold its own as well because of a vastly improved field from a year ago, with Singh, Mike Weir, John Daly and 17 of the top-30 money winners scheduled to play.
“We have a field with a lot of the top money winners, including the No. 1-ranked player in Vijay Singh,” Nobers said. “This was a phenomenal field prior to Tiger Woods committing last week, and it remains a phenomenal field. We’re looking forward to it. We’re excited about it. We’re moving on and looking forward to a great week.”