ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND // Organisers of The Open are still waiting for an entry from Tiger Woods but expect him to try and become the first player to win the title three times at St Andrews on the tournament's 150th anniversary. Woods is one of five players to have won The Open twice at the Old Course - taking the last two majors played there in 2000 and 2005 - and returned to competitive golf recently at the Masters after a long lay-off following a sex scandal.
"Tiger Woods has not yet entered, but in a normal year he would not have done that anyway, so I am absolutely certain he will be with us," Royal and Ancient Club chief executive Peter Dawson told a news conference today. The deadline to enter is May 27. Dawson also downplayed concerns that Woods' appearance after his highly publicised extramarital affairs might create security difficulties at St Andrews.
"By the time The Open comes around, Tiger's return to the game will be well established," Dawson said. "He's got quite a playing schedule in front of him and so the novelty factor of Tiger being back will have worn off to some degree. The Masters had a major problem in really having no idea what to expect, but we will have the benefit of several Tiger events behind us prior to The Open. I am very pleased that we are not the guinea pigs in this.
"We will be watching what happens with Tiger and other players between now and July and will be discussing the whole security position as we always do with the police. We always act on police advice in these matters." * AP
