How the U.S. Took One For The Team

Michael Bamberger

October 08, 2007

Let's be realistic about it: Montreal is a great city, and it's an honor to represent your country, but you know that Tiger Woods would have welcomed a bye week. He'd never say that, but his schedule does not lie. Since Aug. 2 he has played in the World Golf Championship in Akron (a win); the PGA Championship in Tulsa (W); his own FedEx event in Boston (T2); the FedEx event in Chicago (W); the Tour Championship in Atlanta (W); and the Presidents Cup (W). That's six events in two months. From a guy who likes to play 20 times a year. Did he really need the 90-minute bus ride (on the first day) from the Queen Elizabeth hotel in downtown Montreal to the Royal Montreal Golf Club, way out in the suburbs? To play in an event that is essentially a PGA Tour marketing scheme with no payday for the players? Not likely.