Woods backs down on 'ten' challenge

Tiger Woods says he is going to disappoint a lot of people later this week - by refusing the challenge of The Belfry’s famous 10th hole.

Woods made the 260-yard carry to the green with a three-wood in practice today, but then said of the match starting on Friday: “I will lay up every day.

“I can do it, but I have to go through 60-70 feet high trees and it’s not worth the risk.”

The world number one is sorry for the fans who will be taking up position in the hope of seeing him try – and he is disappointed by the decision by European captain Sam Torrance not to use the forward tee.

“Without a doubt it was a better hole the old way. It was the perfect match play hole – you could make two or six.”

His words may cause a revision on the odds quoted by official Ryder Cup bookmakers Victor Chandler.

They came out with a whole page of “novelty bets” surrounding the 10th - with Woods installed as an 8-15 chance to drive the hole at least once over the three days of competition.

He is also 11-4 to do it on Friday and Saturday and 8-1 in the singles on Sunday.

With nobody at the moment committing themselves to “having a go” the best bet could be the 7/4 on offer that the hole will be driven under three times.

Torrance said today the move back and right had been made because “technology has overtaken the hole.”

He pointed out it was being reached with three-irons in the Benson and Hedges International in May and was still within range from the new tee.

Current betting on the match is: 8-13 America, 7-4 Europe, 10-1 a tie. Woods is 2-1 to be the United States’ top scorer and Sergio Garcia is the shortest priced European at 100/30.

Outsiders are Phillip Price at 50/1 and Hal Sutton at 40/1.