Tim Finchem denies forcing Tiger Woods to play in Players Championship
Professional Golf Association Tour commissioner, Tim Finchem, spoke to the press after Tiger Woods pulled out of the Players Championship and said that he did not force the player to take part in the tournament in the first place.
Finchem met the press on Sunday (May 15, 2011) to shed light on various issues, including Woods, who took a withdrawal from the tournament after only playing the first nine holes of the event, owing to a knee injury.
Earlier, when the press asked Woods about his preparations for the tournament, he said that he had not started preparing until the last minute. Since Woods followed the practice of coming to the course prepared, his statement given on Thursday seemed vague-
it seemed he played as a favour for someone.
With Finchem being the tour chief, the withdrawal led to a rumour that Finchem forced Woods into the tournament, despite knowing that his knee could not support his game.
When the question was asked from the tour commissioner, he replied in an annoyed tone, “I don't twist players' arms and as far as Tiger being hurt, that's a decision he has to make, and I had no information that he wasn't ready to play golf. I don't think
anybody did. I don't think he did. I was on the range with him for a half an hour on Tuesday. He was hitting it really well. He went and played nine holes and didn't have a problem. He played the next day, he didn't have a problem. He stayed on the range that
day, he didn't have a problem. So it's all nonsense as far as I'm concerned”.
Finchem added that he had not heard from Woods after the withdrawal, as the injured player was busy with the doctors. He also wished a fast recovery for the player and added that he had no clue of the possible time required for him to hit the balls again.
On the other side, he also highlighted his version of Woods’ absence in the tournament disseminating more attention to the rest of the field. He said although, he wanted Woods to come back and win tournaments, he liked the media attention that was showered
on rest of the players as it was their rightful due.
He emphasised that Woods’s absence was healthy for the PGA Tour, as it motivated the stars of future, who were being deprived of their share of fame, and attention.
With Woods out of the PGA tour for a short while, questions have started arising about his possible return. The former world-number one has not won a title for three years and has been struggling with physical ailments ever since he broke his knee in the
2008 US Open.
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