Dawson pledges to act if Tiger is distracted

ANY attempts to put Tiger Woods off at The Open in July will result in people being ejected.

Having said that he was “absolutely certain” Woods will be present – he has another month to enter – Royal and Ancient Club chief executive Peter Dawson was pressed yesterday on what happens to spectators expressing their disgust at the world number one’s sex scandal.

Final discussions with police over the security level required have still to take place, but Dawson commented: “We are not in a police state and people can say what they like, but if they start putting players off we have to take steps. They will be asked to stop and if they don’t, they’ll be asked to leave.”

Woods was generally welcomed back at The Masters and strict security meant there was no barracking.

Dawson is not expecting a big problem because Woods, who at Augusta ended a five-month break from the game, will have played a few more events come the summer, but he did add: “I could be wrong.”

Dawson and Michael Brown, chairman of the championship committee, have chosen not to criticise Woods in the way that the Augusta National chairman did on the eve of their tournament three weeks ago.

“Because it was the first event back Billy Payne had a decision to make and having made that decision I thought he did it well. It was very measured and well-crafted,” said Dawson.

“I hope the game can put it (the expose of Woods’ long string of affairs) behind us. It came as a great shock. I did describe myself as Tiger’s biggest fan and I’m not going to get into his personal life – I just think it’s very sad that what has happened has happened and I am sure he is too.”

Woods’ on-course behaviour came under the microscope too and, having vowed to try to improve that, there were still some displays of temper as he finished fourth behind Phil Mickelson.

Dawson noted that the American’s demeanour had “clearly deteriorated” prior to the revelations late last year and added: “I am sure that when he looked at the pictures he was not happy with it either.

“But it’s difficult to understand how much a player of his level has to psyche himself up.”

Assuming he does enter, Woods will be trying for an unprecedented third successive victory at St Andrews, where crowds well in excess of 200,000 over the week are expected.

Even though he missed the cut last year, he will be a red-hot favourite however well he plays in North Carolina this week, the Players Championship in Florida next week or the US Open at Pebble Beach in June.

That is because he strode majestically to an eight-shot win in 2000 and then beat Colin Montgomerie by five in 2005.

This year is the 150th anniversary of the first Open and celebrations include a four-hole past champions challenge on the eve of the tournament.

Seve Ballesteros was the first to put himself down for that, but whether his health enables him to return to the scene of his 1984 victory remains to be seen. The Spanish star is still recovering from four brain operations after the discovery of a tumour.

Nick Price (family reasons), Johnny Miller (other commitments) and 89-year-old Australian Kel Nagle, winner on the Old Course in 1960 and the oldest living champion, have all declined their invitations.

Dawson is still waiting to hear, however, from Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus. Norman has recently had shoulder surgery, but Nicklaus controversially said at Augusta that he would only attend if the Royal Bank of Scotland, one of his sponsors, wanted him to.

Prize money has yet to be announced and could be affected by what happens to the economy after next week’s British election.

The winner’s cheque remained £750,000 last year and so there is little chance of the first £1million champion being crowned, as will be the case at Wimbledon this summer.

The biggest change to the Old Course comes at the famous 17th, where what is already by common consent the toughest hole in golf is being lengthened by 40 yards to 495 yards.

And this despite the fact that it played to an average of 4.63 five years ago, 4.71 in 2000 and 4.79 when Ballesteros won 26 years ago.