Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Goosebumps for Tiger, uncertainty for all
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tiger Woods teed off at dawn, when the world
was at peace.
First reports of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in
New York and then the Pentagon were relayed to him by Joe Corless,
a retired FBI agent who heads security for the PGA Tour and walked
the practice round with him at Bellerive Country Club.
Only later did Woods understand the magnitude.
“This is a sad, sad day in America,” he said quietly.
Corless came by with two more reports after Woods finished his
round — a plane down near Pittsburgh, another one presumably
hijacked, location unknown. Air traffic suspended across the country.
Countless lives lost. An uncertain future.
With one foot on a bench in front of his locker, his head bowed,
Woods looked down at his right arm and found it covered with hundreds
of tiny dimples.
“Look at this, I've got goosebumps,” he said, rubbing
his left hand over them.
His caddie, Steve Williams, sat on a folding chair on the practice
range waiting for Woods to show up and hit balls. An hour later,
Woods appeared in dress shoes and motioned to the caddie that
it was time to go home.
Not many others felt like hitting a golf ball, either.
“We're all in shock,” said Adam Scott of Australia.
“Golf is the last priority.”
Woods is part of an elite field gathered for the American Express
Championship, a World Golf Championship event for the top 50 players
in the world ranking and top money leaders from six tours around
the globe.
Only 46 of the 67 players made it to St. Louis. The others were
stranded across the country.
Phil Mickelson was on his way to Houston to talk about his victory
in the 2000 Tour Championship; he made it as far as Austin, Texas.
Jesper Parnevik was in New York. PGA champion David Toms couldn't
get out of Louisiana. Davis Love III was still in Atlanta.
Woods arrived Monday to conduct a clinic for American Express,
the title sponsor with which he has a five-year endorsement contract.
“A lot of their executives left last night to go back to
New York,” he said, his voice trailing off.
American Express headquarters are located near the bottom of the
Twin Towers.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the tournament still was on. The PGA
Tour said it would begin Friday with 36 holes, followed by 18
holes on Saturday and Sunday.
That could change.
“I'm not sure whether we should even play this tournament,”
Justin Leonard said.
Bellerive Country Club has not seen the world's best players since
1992, the year Nick Price won the PGA Championship. His mind back
on golf, but only momentarily, Woods' eyes lit up at the mention
of the course he had just played: thick rough, tree-lined fairways
and greens that were as fast as a major championship.
“The course is awesome,” he said.
The gallery bustled with excitement when the gates opened at 7
a.m. By mid-morning, lively chatter had been replaced by murmurs.
“I just don't feel like talking right now,” Stewart
Cink said.
“Please, not now,” Colin Montgomerie said, waving away
two reporters.
Chris DiMarco was going through the motions on the range. He wanted
to go home to Florida to be with his family. He was stuck in St.
Louis.
“I came out here just to take my mind off it,” DiMarco
said.
He paused.
“I'm not even sure what I'm saying, because I'm in shock
from it all,” he added.
Ernie Els lingered outside the clubhouse as he talked to South
African PGA commissioner Louis Martin, his caddie, tour officials,
and friends. His wife and daughter are in London, preparing to
fly home to South Africa on Wednesday.
“I don't understand how these guys can even hit balls,”
he said, pointing toward the range. Two hours later, Els had joined
them. What else was there to do?
Padraig Harrington of Ireland got in his rental car and tried
to find a decent radio station. He heard the same, shocking news
every time he pushed a button. He is sensitive to terrorism because
of the numerous attacks in Northern Ireland.
“There is a feeling in the air of tragedy,” Harrington
said.
There was a greater feeling of uncertainty.
Not many players expect the tournament to be played this week.
Woods is supposed to leave Monday for Paris to play in the Lancome
Trophy.
“I wonder if I can even go,” he said.
The following week is the Ryder Cup, one of the most anticipated
sporting events of the year. That, too, was in doubt.
“We're supposed to leave in 13 days,” Jim Furyk said.
“It's an important event. It's the Olympics for us. But there
are more important things in life.”
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