Buick Open still hoping new father Tiger Woods to play
Released on = June 24, 2007, 12:41 pm
Press Release Author = GolfPublisher Syndications
Industry = Media
Press Release Summary = New dad Tiger Woods might still play Buick Open. PGA Tour news at WorldGolf.com
Press Release Body = From WorldGolf.com News Services, Golf Publisher Syndications
At least one Buick Open official remains hopeful that Tiger Woods will defend his title at the tournament next week despite becoming a father on Monday.
Larry Peck, marketing manager for the June 28-July 1 event at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Mich., said Tuesday that the birth of Woods\' daughter, Sam Alexis Woods, was good news and that the timing could allow the world No. 1 to spend time with his family and still play the Buick.
\"From a tournament standpoint, the timing reduces the uncertainty of next week,\" Peck told reporters. \"[Woods] has told us all along that he intends to play here. I have nothing but optimism that he\'ll spend a great week at home with the baby and Elin, then he\'ll come defend his title.\"
Woods, who tied for second in last week\'s U.S. Open, has played in the Detroit-area tournament each of the past five years, winning in 2002 and 2006. Woods has a sponsorship agreement with Buick, renewed in 2004 and worth an estimated $40 million-plus over five years, but it doesn\'t require him to play in Buick-sponsored PGA Tour events.
As for now, Peck said he isn\'t going to press Woods on the issue.
\"We\'re not going to bother him at this point, but I think the timing of the birth makes it even more of a sure thing that he\'s coming,\" Peck said. \"He officially commits with the PGA Tour on the Friday before tournaments.\"
U.S. Open TV ratings soar Call it the Tiger effect.
With Woods in contention to win the U.S. Open, Sunday\'s final round reportedly drew 2.5 million more viewers than last year\'s event, at which Woods missed the cut.
NBC attracted a 6.4 national rating and a 16 share, up 36 percent from the 2006 Open. An average of 9.5 million viewers watched Angel Cabrera hold off Woods and Jim Furyk by one shot. It was the biggest audience since 2002, when 13.1 million viewers watched Woods capture the Open at Bethpage.
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June 22, 2007 Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.
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