Associated Press
Wednesday, May 24
DUBLIN, Ohio -- Tiger Woods said Wednesday he will use a Nike ball when he defends his title at this week's Memorial Tournament.
Woods had used Titleist balls exclusively in his first 97 tournaments as a professional until last week's Deutsche Bank-SAP Open. Woods took a two-stroke lead into the final round, then shot a
closing 70 that left him four shots behind winner Lee Westwood in a tie for third.
"I'm seeing if I can get a feel for it," Woods said of the version of Nike's Tour Accuracy ball.
Although tired from the flight back from Germany, Woods said his game was in good shape, making it the ideal time to experiment.
"Something I've always believed in is if you're going to try something out, try it while you're playing well," he said.
Tough decision
Ernie Els has not missed a Memorial since joining the PGA Tour in 1994. Even a prestigious European tour event -- the Volvo PGA, where he has a home on the Wentworth course, could not pull him away. "Those are two of my favorite events, but I like this one a little bit more," Els said. "It's hard to let this one go." There were other factors, too. Els, who withdrew from the Byron Nelson Classic when he felt a twinge in his back, did not want to cross the Atlantic for the Volvo PGA, then have to come back to America for U.S. Open preparations. "That would just screw up my back again," Els said. Els, the 1994 and 1997 U.S. Open champion, plans to play the Kemper Open and Buick Classic before going over to Pebble Beach. After two weeks off -- and still stung by missed chances in The Masters and MCI Classic -- he is ready to go. "I'm really feeling good," he said. "To be honest with you, I cannot wait to start Thursday. I'm looking forward to playing again, especially now that I'm healthy." Big brother
There's another pro golfer in the Singh family, and he's also taking a shot at making it in the United States. Krishna Singh, 39, the older brother of Masters champion Vijay Singh, is trying his hand at the mini-tours. "He wants to come over here and see how he's going to do," Singh said Wednesday. "He's been playing in Australia and Asia. He's a pretty decent player but he hasn't played that many tournaments. He played in a lot of tournaments in Asia, but nothing big." Divots
Eighteen of the 24 past champions at the Memorial have won majors.
The Captain's Club, which sets the policies and oversees the Memorial, has already announced the 2001 tournament honoree: Payne Stewart.
The first 10 winners of the Memorial averaged 282.5 strokes, with a low score of 8-under 280. Since then, the 12 winners in 72-hole events have averaged 272.4, and the winning score has not not been higher than 277 since 1985.
The rough at Muirfield Village Golf Club has never been thicker: 4 inches of wet, wiry bluegrass. And course designer Jack Nicklaus isn't thrilled. "It's just hack it out, hack it out, and I don't like that kind of rough," he said.
Singh said he has contemplated undergoing laser eye surgery so he wouldn't have to wear glasses. "The way I've been putting, I think I really should do it," he said.
Wednesday, May 24
DUBLIN, Ohio -- Tiger Woods said Wednesday he will use a Nike ball when he defends his title at this week's Memorial Tournament.
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| Woods |
Ernie Els has not missed a Memorial since joining the PGA Tour in 1994. Even a prestigious European tour event -- the Volvo PGA, where he has a home on the Wentworth course, could not pull him away. "Those are two of my favorite events, but I like this one a little bit more," Els said. "It's hard to let this one go." There were other factors, too. Els, who withdrew from the Byron Nelson Classic when he felt a twinge in his back, did not want to cross the Atlantic for the Volvo PGA, then have to come back to America for U.S. Open preparations. "That would just screw up my back again," Els said. Els, the 1994 and 1997 U.S. Open champion, plans to play the Kemper Open and Buick Classic before going over to Pebble Beach. After two weeks off -- and still stung by missed chances in The Masters and MCI Classic -- he is ready to go. "I'm really feeling good," he said. "To be honest with you, I cannot wait to start Thursday. I'm looking forward to playing again, especially now that I'm healthy." Big brother
There's another pro golfer in the Singh family, and he's also taking a shot at making it in the United States. Krishna Singh, 39, the older brother of Masters champion Vijay Singh, is trying his hand at the mini-tours. "He wants to come over here and see how he's going to do," Singh said Wednesday. "He's been playing in Australia and Asia. He's a pretty decent player but he hasn't played that many tournaments. He played in a lot of tournaments in Asia, but nothing big." Divots
