Woods: the missing man
Also see
This week's Open Championship will take place without the greatest player on the planet.
Three-time champion Tiger Woods is back home in Florida recovering from knee surgery, the first time he has missed a major championship since 1996.
During that time he has won 14 of them and would have been a red-hot favourite to claim a 15th at Royal Birkdale.
His absence is sure to cast a long shadow, but is this year's Open devalued because of it?
Should the champion's name forever have an asterisk by it?
Or is this week's tournament still the most important of the season? And will the winner have every right to call himself 'Champion Golfer of the Year'?
Share your thoughts...
Comments (12)
Dave Salfield says...
The Open IS "THE OPEN" and what a fabulous championship it is...but from this person's perspective here in the states...it is greatly devalued without Tiger. Would Wimbledon be devalued without Federer?. In the states, TV ratings drop by over 60% when Tiger is not competing. TV ratings are always down for the Open due to the time difference..not many golfers sitting in front of TV at 11 AM eastcoast and 8AM on the westcoast...but it is what it is...and whomever wins will be worthy and THE OPEN will continue to be the great championship that it is! However, don't insult Tiger's record....6 wins and 4 seconds in the last 14 majors by attempting to debate who is #1. Sergio beat Paul Goydas at the Player's, Kenny Perry's wins and Anthony Kim's wins were all in tournaments that Tiger did not compete. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN BEING BEST IN THE WORLD versus Best In The Field.
Posted 16:46 16th July 2008
Milo Murphy says...
well, for starters whoever wiins will ask themselves... "would i have done this if tiger was here?" and the answer could go either way, whoever wins will be someone that is unable to compete in the prescence of tiger, and therefore when he is injured and unable to play, they will "pull it out of the bag" a real major is being the best player in the world, he is hard to beat really, no-one can do it!! Wish he was there...
Posted 13:21 16th July 2008
Charles Abertawejack says...
I heard it on the telly yesterday, from aomeone? that no one man is bigger than golf itself.....quite right too, yet! why is it that Tigers name, was mentioned at every conceavable moment, at the Scotish open?
Posted 23:32 15th July 2008
Kevin Mc bride says...
Awk, of course Tiger will be missed but i find it astonishing that people could find this years British Open "devalued" !!! Now come on now people, this is the British Open we are talking about. One of the most spectacular and historic golfing events in the world. An event that has had an abundance of talent and great winners through the years and this include's before Tiger. I think some of my most memorable Opens were the one's that Tiger wasn't in the running. Last years tournament was unbelievable and Tiger was playing that year and didnt lift the jug. He has won it 3 times. Brilliant you might say but its not a far-gone conclusion that he will win it. There is alot of talent out there and i believe the world of golf is catching up with Tiger. He was the break through who broke the mold but now our pro's are getting into good physical and metal shape for these tournaments and have a tiger like approach to tournaments now. Tiger is unbeleivable and there's no doubt about it but tiger can have a bad just like the others. To be honest, i dont think he would have won this year anyway because there is so many players out there coming into their prime and making that extra step into world class golfers. Im excited here right now knowing that the British Open is starting soon and my mind is going into over-drive trying to work out who could win the Claret Jug with so many players in outstanding form. I hope Tiger gets well soon and he will be missed until the day he comes back to the golfing world but how anyone could think that the momentus occassion of lifting the Claret Jug could be devalued is beyond me. They have a course to beat as well as the players Royal Birkdale isn't going anywhere. This event was prestigous before tiger so lets not forget that. Let the games begin folks
Posted 09:45 15th July 2008
Paul Bridges says...
I do think that i will take away from the Open, but only in the run up, and then the golf will take over. Golf will always be the winner, not the player. I also think that i may even top the drama of last year with Padraig and Sergio to go at it again this year. I think we will see better more relaxed golf due to the Tiger facter not having an influence over the players, always having to look at what Tiger is doing or not doing. The whole field will be the focus not Tiger. Come on Padraig!!!!
Posted 06:32 15th July 2008
Yen chong Yap says...
It is more of a pro-Tiger fans vs anti-Tiger fans debate. Pro-Tiger fans say "without Tiger we won't be watching" but anti-Tiger fans will say otherwise. Though I am a great fan of Tiger and miss him playing I don't see myself not watching the OPEN Live over the screen. The OPEN since 1860 has so much history behind it that any winner is just a another small part of it. I believe the crowd will be waiting eagerly to know who will be the winner without Tiger being mentioned as the favouirte. Has the OPEN devalue? Most probably not
Posted 00:20 15th July 2008
Jamie Lee says...
Why should it be devalued? This is just an absurd statement, probably from the jealous Americans that our major tournament is way older than theirs. The Open Championship, regardless of who competes, is the pinnacle of golf. Remember the tournament is always bigger than the players. Tiger is and will continue to be a phenomenal talent but it was forecast a good few years ago that the speed and power he puts into his swing will result in injuries later on in his career. The question should be is this the start of the Tiger's decline? Whilst I think the answer to this is no, bearing in mind he won the US Open with the damaged knee, there are still many great players competing for one of or if not the best golfing prize of them all. I'll be cheering on Sergio now he seem to have finally found a winning putting stoke. It could well be Spain's year, what with the Euro success, Nadal winning Wimbledon and Sergio getting over his very big torunament duck.
Posted 11:26 14th July 2008
Elliott Billson says...
To win the open without Tiger being there, is going to take something off it, because if you finish above Tiger in a Major, you would probably find yourself at the top of the leaderboard. It is not going to be the same without him there. Every player always knows where Tiger is on the leaderboard, and that is not going to happen this week! To be a true major champ, you have to beat the best, and unfortunately the best is not there this week!! Have your money on Jimenez, the man is in great form!!!
Posted 10:03 14th July 2008
Shay Brennan says...
I think any golfer who is good enough to win Our Open (with or without Tiger) should not have his victory lessened because there is still an awesome field as the world number. 2 onwards are playing so i think winning The Open should not be devalued.But i think it does take the edge off of the victory as the great tournaments have the greatest players.
Posted 18:23 13th July 2008
Tim Hugill says...
To be considered as "a great player", I suggest you've got to be fit to play. You've got to be in it to win it - quite simple really.
Posted 17:58 13th July 2008
James Holder says...
I think anyone who says that the open isn't going to lose anything with Woods not playing is kidding themselves. Of course it is still a major championship and the winner on Sunday will be delighted, but the fact Tiger is not playing will take some of the shine off that claret jug. The reason majors are the biggest and best events is because the greatest players always play. Well, the greatest of them all isn't playing this week, which for me takes away a lot from the event. The winner will always face the question "Would you have won if Tiger had played!"
Posted 14:35 13th July 2008
David Miles says...
Tiger Woods has played in the Open 14 times and won it three times. So it was hardly a foregone conclusion that he would win this week. Whoever lifts the claret jug on Sunday will be a worthy Open champion. This tournament is far bigger than one man, no matter how good he is. (And by the way, will the Ryder Cup be likewise devaled? Of course not).
Posted 12:51 13th July 2008