Majors still worthy without Tiger

COLIN Montgomerie insists that winning either of the next two majors – or indeed the Ryder Cup – will not be devalued just because the injured Tiger Woods is not in the field.

As the world of golf yesterday continued to react to the news that Woods was taking the rest of the season off to recover from more knee surgery and two stress fractures in his left leg, there was a feeling that the big winners this summer will always be reminded that they triumphed due in no small part to the absence of the world No1.

In the same way that competitors at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow had a better chance of winning a gold medal because of the US-led boycott, and teams chasing the FA Cup in 2000 had an easier run to Wembley because of Manchester United's non-participation that year, it is only natural to conclude that golfers teeing-up at Royal Birkdale next month and Oakland Hills in August will have a better chance of topping the leaderboard with Tiger not there.

Montgomerie, however, has denied the suggestion that a triumph at the Open or the US PGA would now mean less. "Not at all," he said. "In four years' time you won't know if Tiger Woods was playing or not."

Monty, though, was one of several players at the BMW International Open in Munich yesterday who agreed that tournaments will miss the presence of Woods and the television ratings and fan interest that follow the American from course to course.

"Everybody is disappointed he won't be at the Open or PGA or other world events," added the Scot. "But health is number one and we have to go by that. It puts the whole thing into perspective in a big, big hurry. We wish him well and we realise now with him not playing the power one individual has in the game."

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell said: "It is a big deal, no Tiger at the Open, US PGA, the Ryder Cup. The best player in the world by a long way is not going to be there. It will take away from the atmosphere – disappointing."

John Daly – who joked that Woods could have won last week's US Open on one leg – admitted: "It is a blow to all the fans who follow him. The sponsors, the money, wouldn't be where it is if it wasn't for him."

American golfer Kenny Perry, speaking ahead of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut, fears Woods' lay-off will have significant repercussions for the PGA Tour and fledgling tournaments such as the FedEx Cup series and the AT&T National. "It's going to be tough for the sponsors, I think, and the tour," he said.

"Definitely, Tiger is our tour and when you lose your star player, it definitely hurts."

Perry's compatriot Jerry Kelly, perhaps contradicting Montgomerie's belief that victories will not be devalued, added: "The sponsors want him, the media wants him and the players really want him because when we win a tournament without Tiger in it, we beat the best of the field that week, but you haven't beaten the best."

Former world No1 Bernhard Langer, himself prone to injury, has raised doubts that Woods will play again. "I don't know exactly what he has but I talked to a couple of physios and they said it's a serious injury.

"There could be some chance that he might not play again – or play to the level he has. I hope that won't be the case. He's very determined and he's a great athlete."

Tiger's coach, Hank Haney, dismissed any such fears last night, however, and insists that his pupil will come back an even better player – a mind-boggling prospect for all his rivals.

"I wouldn't rate it as any concern at all," explained Haney. "Tiger is going to come back and be better than he ever was.

"He's had trouble with his knee ever since I've been with him for the past five years and I know he's had trouble with it before that. Now he's going to have a stable knee. I just expect it will be such a positive thing for Tiger and his whole career, giving him more time to practice. He has been really limited in what he could do."

With or without Woods, the show must go on and Peter O'Malley shot a six-under 66 yesterday to share first place with three others players after the opening round of the BMW International Open. O'Malley had a bogey-free round of six birdies to split the top of the leaderboard with South Africa's Anton Haig, Singapore's Mardan Mamat and Rafa Echenique of Argentina. Montgomerie is four shots off the pace after a 70.

FACT BOX

WITH no Tiger Woods in the field, the bookmakers have been left scrabbling around to find a new favourite for the Open. Whereas Woods would be around a 2-1 favourite, Ernie Els is the new market leader with Ladbrokes at six times the price, odds of 12-1.

LATEST BETTING

Ernie Els 12-1
Sergio Garcia 14-1
Padraig Harrington 16-1
Phil Mickelson 16-1
Vijay Singh 20-1
Lee Westwood 20-1
Justin Rose 20-1
Geoff Ogilvy 20-1
Jim Furyk 25-1
Retief Goosen 25-1
Adam Scott 25-1
Luke Donald 33-1
Robert Karlsson 33-1
Trevor Immelman 40-1
OTHERS 50-1