- Title: USA: TIGER WOODS PREPARES FOR THE MASTER GOLF TOURNAMENT
- Date: 8th April 2003
- Summary: (S1) AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 8, 2003)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB 2. TIGER WOODS PRACTICE 3. T. WOODS AT PRESS CONFERENCE 4. (SOUNDBITE)(English) TIGER WOODS SAYING, "I do like playing in tough conditions and it doesn't mean you always play well but I enjoy that challenge, I certainly enjoy it-it's not gonna, it's not something that's gonna - I don't get bummed out-put it that way, when the conditions are tough. You gotta go out there and suck it up and play the best you can and sometimes they're brutal and you got to deal with them, other times you can get through it." 5. T. WOODS PRACTICE 6. RETIEF GOOSEN AT PRESS CONFERENCE 7. (SOUNDBITE)(English) RETIEF GOOSEN SAYING, "Tiger's very much what Jack Nicklaus was, you know he's able to really block out everything that's going on around him and his focus and concentration are so good that he can calm himself out there under these situations very easily and while other players might think of what's going on and not really be focusing on their game and then really add pressure to themselves." 8. T. WOODS PRACTICE PUTT 9. T. WOODS AT PRESS CONFERENCE 10. (SOUNDBITE)(English) TIGER WOODS SAYING, "Everyone here knows my opinion on it. Should they become members or should they be members? Yes-but I'm, I don't really have a vote on how they run this golf course or this club." 11. STUART APPLEBY 12. NICK FALDO WALKS BY 13. JUSTIN ROSE 14. NICK FALDO 15. MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ SMOKING CIGAR 16. M.A. JIMENEZ 17. SHEGEKI MARUYAMA 18. PHIL TATAURANGI 19. AUGUSTA GOLF CLUB PIN FLAG Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 23rd April 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA4A3H4B36NEK869C463795R5DR
- Story Text: Tiger Woods, who will be shooting for his third
consecutive Masters title, managed to get some practice time
in between the rain and amid the membership controversy
surrounding Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
Tiger Woods, who will launch his bid on Thursday for
an unprecedented third consecutive U.S. Masters, has been
grouped with U.S. amateur champion Ricky Barnes and
Argentina's Angel Cabrera for the first two rounds.
The trio are scheduled to tee off at 1544 GMT on Thursday
and at 1829 GMT on Friday.
Woods, champion at Augusta National in 1997, 2001 and for
the third time last year, is the third back-to-back winner of
the tournament, after Jack Nicklaus in 1966 and Nick Faldo in
1990.
The phenomenal ability Tiger Woods has to block out
distractions will be tested to the full at the U.S. Masters,
where talk about a first woman member is overshadowing his
quest for a third consecutive green jacket.
The first three questions Woods fielded in his news
conference on Tuesday were all related to the controversy
around Augusta National's all-male membership policy and
activist Martha Burk's plans to protest outside the
club's gates.
Try as Woods might to keep the spotlight on the year's
first major and his bid for an historic third consecutive
green jacket, the world number one was repeatedly grilled
about his thoughts on the fight to have women admitted to
golf's most exclusive club.
Continually dragged into an unwanted discussion, Woods was
evasive and appeared slightly uncomfortable when questioned
about his place and responsibility in the debate that has
polarised the golfing world.
"Everyone here knows my opinion. Should they become
members or should they be members? Yes. But you know, I'm -- I
don't really have a vote in how they run this golf course and
this club," said Tiger.
PGA Tour members in general and Woods in particular have
come under criticism from Burk, head of National Council for
Women's Organisations that is planning a protest Saturday, for
failing to lend their support to the cause.
Burk believes the backing of some of golf's top players
would apply considerable pressure to the club and president
Hootie Johnson to finally admit a woman member.
Davis Love III, winner of the Players' Championship two
weeks ago, will tee off two groups ahead of Woods, alongside
fellow American Rocco Mediate and Japan's Shigeki Maruyama.
British Open champion Ernie Els, the world number two, is
one of the late starters on Thursday and has been grouped with
Jim Furyk and Spaniard Sergio Garcia.
Els and company are set to tee off at 1818 GMT, a group
behind world number four Phil Mickelson, 2001 U.S. PGA
champion David Toms and Australia's Peter Lonard.
Fiji's Vijay Singh, the 2000 champion, plays the first two
rounds at Augusta in the company of 2001 U.S. Open winner
Retief Goosen and American John Huston while young guns
Charles Howell III, Australia's Adam Scott and
England's Justin Rose will tee off together at 1533 GMT on
Thursday.
Following the death last year of three-times champion Sam
Snead, there will be no ceremonial first drive of the
tournament on Thursday.
The first group out at 1310 GMT will be Scotland's Sandy
Lyle, the 1988 champion, Charles Coody, winner in 1971, and
Tommy Aaron, who won the Masters in 1973.
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