‘First woman’ overshadows Tiger

AUGUSTA: The phenomenal ability Tiger Woods has to block out distractions will be tested to the full at the US 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. “You know, I’ve already answered that,” said Woods, when asked if he felt any obligation to speak out about social issues around the sport. “And I’ve answered that many times prior to this event and right now I’m just trying to get myself ready to play on Thursday. “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.”

PGA Tour members in general and Woods in particular have come under criticism from Burk, head of National Council for Women’s Organisations who are 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. “I’m disappointed in all the golfers, they have lent lukewarm support,” said Burk in a recent interview with Reuters. “I’m disappointed in all of them. “(Woods) has a unique opportunity and he has not taken advantage of that opportunity. “But I have said from the start this is all not Tiger, they all have a responsibility.”

During his interview, Woods was pressed on his commitment to bringing attention to social issues and bristled at the suggestion that he was less committed to helping initiate change than he was when he exploded onto the golf scene. Asked if he was as passionate about ending discrimination, as he was when he won his first Masters in 1997, Woods answered, “I am”. Told, it had not been very evident, Woods snapped: “Probably that’s just your opinion”.

Woods was not alone in his effort to skirt the controversy that is threatening to overshadow the 67th Masters. Nearly every golfer in the interview room on Tuesday distanced themselves from the debate saying that it was a matter for the Augusta membership and not the golfers. “It’s not really something any of the players want to get involved in,” said South African Retief Goosen, runner up to Woods last year.