Tiger Woods has pulled out of next week's Lancome Trophy in Paris, raising fresh doubts about the staging of the Ryder Cup later this month. Woods planned to use the event as a warm-up for the Ryder Cup due to start at The Belfry in a fortnight's time, but he does not feel he can travel so soon after Tuesday's terror attacks on the US.
"I don't believe this is an appropriate time to play competitive golf. I feel strongly that this is a time to pause, reflect and remember the victims of Tuesday's horrific attack. I have always felt that I must be fully committed to each and every golf competition I enter, but due to this week's events, I am not. I also fear that the security risks of travelling overseas at the present time are too great," Woods told his personal website, www.tigerwoods.com.
It had been reported today that the American team has to make a unanimous decision in order to make the trip. The PGA of America have said that a decision on whether the match takes place could be days away. "We are reassessing every logistic connected with the match. This will require input from our government," said PGA chief executive officer Jim Awtrey.
Ireland's Paul McGinley fears the threat of US retaliation over Tuesday's terrorist attacks will determine the future of this year's tournament. "The problem will be that you are going to have some kind of retaliation from the American government in the next two weeks. That will be the biggest problem for the Ryder Cup. It's a horrible situation and a horrible decision for people to have to make," said the Ryder Cup debutante.
Despite the obvious disappointment he would face if the Ryder Cup was cancelled, McGinley recognises that the American contingent must make the decision. "The decision to cancel the American Express event was taken democratically and the overwhelming opinion was not to play. It's the same with the Ryder Cup. The decision must be made democratically and I think we are going to have some Americans not wanting to come," he added.
Meanwhile, the European tour has agreed to allow all members of Europe's Ryder Cup team to file late entries into the Paris event if they wish to play. The size of the field is being increased to accommodate them following the cancellation of this week's American Express world championship in St Louis. Welshman Phillip Price has already taken up the chance, while Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia and Thomas Bjorn, who pulled out of the world championship with a shoulder injury, were already in the starting line-up.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
