Tigermania sweeps over Buick Open
By HARRY ATKINS AP Sports Writer
GRAND BLANC, Mich. (AP) - Virtually all of the greats have
played in the Buick Open over the years. Yet there never has been
anything like the Tigermania sweeping over Warwick Hills this
week.
"I now know who the fifth Beatle was," a veteran
reporter said in the press tent Tuesday after a tightly controlled
news conference with Tiger Woods.
At Warwick Hills, about 60 miles northwest of Detroit, security
has been almost doubled from past years. Well over 100,000 fans
will troop their way around the course between now and Sunday.
And there are still tickets available.
Those who attend will get their money's worth. This Buick Open
has perhaps the strongest field in its history. Certainly, there
aren't many weekly tour stops that could boast of having the defending
champion of the last four major championships in its field.
Mark Brooks, who will defend his PGA championship next week
at fabled Winged Foot, is here. So is Ernie Els, the current U.S.
Open champion. Justin Leonard, who won the British Open three
weeks ago, just happens to be the defending Buick Open champion.
Still, the man they're all here to see is the Masters champ.
Because of Woods, there have been over 450 requests for media
credentials, more than twice as many as usual. Because of the
crush, PGA Tour officials had to place a limit of 14 television
cameras on the makeshift platform in the rear of the interview
area.
Woods, of course, is aware of all the fuss. He tries to take
it all in stride, and most times does a remarkable job of it.
Yet he admits it can be a bit staggering at times. You have to
remember he is only 21 years old.
"Nothing prepared me for this," Woods said. "And
I've been in the media since I was 3-years-old."
In an attempt to avoid some of the mob that punctuates his
every appearance, Woods scheduled a practice round at 7:30 a.m.
Tuesday. It didn't help. Tiger fans covered the golf course like
the dew.
"It's weird when you get 1,000 people following you when
it's 7:30 in the morning," Woods said. "Because, I'll
guarantee you, I'd be in bed asleep at that hour if I didn't have
to play."
Historians would probably have to go back to 1965 to find a
Buick Open field to compare with this one. Jack Nicklaus, who
played in three Buick Opens as an amateur, made his only professional
appearance that year.
Joining Nicklaus were Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. Together,
they were known as golf's "Big Three" in those days.
Tony Lema won the Buick Open for the second straight time that
year.
Woods may be upstaged this week, too. He says that's not important.
He says he is aiming mainly to get his game in shape for the season's
final major championship - next week.
Then, he gives it all away when somebody asks him if he ever
gets tired of all the attention and the pressure.
"The time I'm not having fun is the time I quit,"
Woods said. "This is what I love to do. I love to golf."
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