Tiger ID-ed!

[lmanchur.]

Funny story in my local Winnipeg Free Press yesterday morning.

Tiger Woods was apparantly asked for ID before he stepped to the tee of yesterday's opening round of the National Car Rental Classic in Walt Disney World, Florida.

Woods pulled out his driver's liscence, but that wasn't enough and tournament officials asked for his PGA Tour card. He looked through his pockets but didn't have it on him.

Beside Woods standing was Mark O'Meara. He told tournament officials, "He's OK -- I think he's won this tournament a few times :D"

...I will post the URL to this story, but right now, the Winnipeg Free Press' site is down.


As for the actual tournament, Tiger Woods is not in the Top 10 as of the mid-way point of the Second Round today. Jerry Smith and Canada's Mike Weir are tied for first at 11 under par, but the Round 1 leaders at -7 -- Stewart Cink and Steve Lowery -- have yet to tee-off their 19th hole of the tournament.

Although the PGA Tour has been playing the past four weeks, t NCR Classic is the first tournament since the September 11 attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., that features a majority of the golfing world's top players.

[RaviPachai18]

Dunno what to say, thats kinda weird eh? :) I'd like to see the story! Hope you kind find the link.

Ravi

[lmanchur.]

In the Thursday, October 18 Winnipeg Free Press (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/news/sports/273346687596334.html)
Golf stars return to tight security
By Doug Ferguson LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- In morning darkness at Disney, Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara changed into their golf shoes in the parking lot yesterday and were headed to the first tee when two security guards asked for identification.....
Woods, perhaps the most recognizable athlete in the world, held out his driver's licence, but that wasn't enough. They wanted to see his PGA Tour badge.

"I don't have it," Woods said after a brief search through his pockets.

The guards, unsure what to do next, decided to let him through the checkpoint to the Magnolia Course at Walt Disney World.

"I think he's won this tournament a couple of times," O'Meara assured them. "He's a pretty good player."

The checkpoint is part of a new security measure at Disney. The changes are new to Woods, who hasn't played competitively for five weeks.

Not even he is sure what to expect.

"I could come out a little rusty -- it's part of taking time off," Woods said. "But I could turn that around and use it as a positive, come out fresh, hit the ball well and putt it well. You don't know until you get a chance to experience it."

Woods last played on tour at the Canadian Open, where he shared the lead after the first round but lost a ball in the trees and finished the week at Royal Montreal in a tie for 23rd, 10 strokes back.

He was in St. Louis for the American Express Championship when it was called off because the terrorist attacks. He cancelled his trip to Paris for the Lancome Trophy, and then the Ryder Cup was postponed for a year.

"Obviously, things weren't supposed to work out this way," he said. "It worked out the best for me because I had time to rest up physically, mentally and get things back in order."

Woods also took a five-week break at this time last year, returning to go 3-2 in the Presidents Cup matches. He has won five times when coming back from a layoff that lasted at least three weeks.

"I'm itching to get with it, go out there and compete," Woods said. "For me, five weeks is a long time. I feel like I'm mentally ready, physically ready and I just want to compete again, something I love to do."

Canadians playing are Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., David Morland IV of Aurora, Ont., Ian Leggatt of Cambridge, Ont., and Glen Hnatiuk of Selkirk, Man. Calgary resident Stephen Ames is also playing.


FOUR tournaments have been played since Sept. 11, although none featured golf's top drawing card. All spectators are subject to having bags checked, and that included the golf bags of Woods and O'Meara before they were allowed onto the course.

Woods already has had his share of problems. A man was arrested for boisterous behaviour in Phoenix two years ago and was found to have a gun in his backpack. He was tripped up by an autograph hound at Pebble Beach this year and hyperextended his knee.

"The galleries are right next to you," he said. "That's one of the things we pride ourselves in, the accessibility of it. But that's also one of the dangers."

Is he concerned?

"No," he replied. "I've had to deal with this ever since I turned pro."

-- Associated Press

[Marc]

LOL, that's crazy, asinine!