Is the world’s best-loved golfer bigger than the sport itself? That’s the question Tiger Woods’ fellow players and the game’s administrators have been grappling with at the 2008 British Open.
Royal & Ancient director of championships David Hill said the absence of world No.1 Woods while he recovers from knee surgery has had no effect on the gate with advance ticket sales up 28 per cent on 1998 when the event was last held at Royal Birkdale.
“(We’re) very confident there will be 200,000 people here during the week, and even today they’re pouring in through the pay gates more than we anticipated,” Hill said on Wednesday, on the eve of the 137th Open.
“I think people are coming to see the Open more than ever.
“It’s disappointing Tiger is not here, but the fans think this is a special week and they’ve made their minds up to come.”
The anticipated effect on the event’s profile and television viewing figures was a different story, however, according to R&A chief executive Peter Dawson.
“It would be silly to say there will be no effect, of course there will be some effect,” Dawson said.
“I’m not one who subscribes to the theory, though, that it will devalue the champion, whoever that is.
“Tiger has played in 11 Opens (as a professional). He’s won three of them, which means he hasn’t won eight of them.
“The odds are, whoever wins this week would have won anyway.”
Australia’s highest-ranked player, world No.3 Geoff Ogilvy, emphasised this point, saying that of the 46 majors Woods has played, he has won 14.
“It’s an astonishing percentage, but that’s still 32 that he hasn’t won that he’s played,” Ogilvy said.
“Seven out of ten that he plays he doesn’t win, which is still more often than he does win.”
A perfect example is the 2007 British Open, won by Padraig Harrington in a play-off with Sergio Garcia as Woods finished tied for 12th.
But Ogilvy, who won the 2006 US Open when Woods missed the cut, also said the American’s dominance of the sport served as a source of inspiration, not resentment.
“Look at how golf is now because of what he’s done in the last 10 years – it’s awesome,” Ogilvy said.
“Golf tournaments are a pretty cool feeling place when he’s around and in contention.
“When you win a golf tournament when he’s there, it’s extra satisfying.”
So does that mean winning a title without Woods there is less satisfying?
Australia’s former world No.1 Greg Norman doesn’t think so.
“It’s to be expected, but it shouldn’t be because at the same time it is the British Open,” the 53-year-old Norman said of the hype surrounding Woods’ absence.
“Other great players have missed major championships before in the past and I know Tiger’s coming off the heels of a great win at the US Open but all in all golf is bigger than any player and the British Open is bigger than any of them.
“It’s the number one major of the lot … whoever wins, they’re going to win the British Open irrespective of who’s in the field or not.”
Woods’ close friend, Mark O’Meara, who won the last time The Open was played at Royal Birkdale 10 years ago, agreed.
“Even as great as Tiger Woods is and as much of a fan as I am of Tiger’s and I know what he has meant to the game over the last 11 years, I think even he would admit this: No player, no matter who it is, is bigger than the game itself, not even Tiger,” O’Meara said.
Similarly, Garcia, installed as the bookmakers’ favourite to win the 2008 title, firmly believes the British Open is bigger than any individual player, even Woods.
“If I happen to never play golf again or Tiger happens to never play golf again, the Open will still be played and that’s the most important thing,” Garcia said.
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