Golf world reels over Tiger's leave

LONDON – Tiger Woods’ decision to take what he called “an indefinite break” to repair his marriage was greeted with surprise, bemusement and even relief Saturday as golfers, fans and commentators contemplated the immediate future of a sport without its biggest draw.

John Daly sympathized as newspapers worldwide continued to pile up accusations of infidelity, Annika Sorenstam lamented a family tragedy and Colin Montgomerie noted dryly that golf’s big prizes just became a little more accessible to those unable to touch the heights regularly reached by Woods.

These are tumultuous times for golf after Friday’s announcement by its No. 1 player that he is taking time out following two weeks of allegations of extramarital affairs.

“There was an aura and that wall, if you like, has been split slightly,” said Montgomerie, Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup captain. “There are cracks and I feel that it gives us more opportunity of winning these big events now.”

Next year could have been one of the biggest in Woods’ hitherto stellar career, with three of the four majors played at courses on which he has already triumphed.

Instead, golf is preparing for another spell without its biggest superstar.

Woods’ absence from the PGA Tour for much of last season because of reconstructive knee surgery led to a drop in television ratings of 50 percent.

“Indefinite is a scary word,” former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy said. “That’s not good for us. But I’m sure he’ll get it worked out.”

Woods so far seems intent on doing so without help from his fellow professionals.

“He just didn’t want to talk to anybody,” Daly said at the Australian PGA on Saturday. “I’m in shock over it all, a lot of our players are in shock. I’m not happy with the way some of our players have responded – that’s their way of getting back because they know they can’t beat him at golf.

“They always say there is no one bigger in golf than the game itself. But Tiger is.”

Craig Parry was finishing his third round at the Australian PGA when he heard about Woods’ decision to step aside.

A friend of Woods who lives nearby in Windermere, Florida, Parry played alongside him for the first two rounds of last month’s Australian Masters in Melbourne – Woods’ final tournament before his car crash and subsequent accusations of infidelity.

“What he did was totally wrong,” Parry said. “And he’s got no one to blame except himself. You can look at other people, but he’s the one who’s got to look in the mirror.” (AP)