Golf International Magazine Online

Still coping with the death of his father, Tiger Woods decided to skip the Memorial Tournament for the first time, meaning he will be coming off the longest layoff in his career when he goes to the U.S. Open.

Woods had until 5 p.m. last Friday to enter the Memorial, and tournament officials held out hope until the final minute. "We're respecting his decision to come back when he's ready," tournament director Dan Sullivan said. "There's always disappointment when a top player doesn't come to a tournament. Hopefully, he'll come back next year."

For the last 10 years, the Memorial has always counted on having two of the biggest names in golf -- Woods, a three-time winner at Muirfield Village, and tournament host Jack Nicklaus.

Nicklaus did not enter for the first time since the tournament began 30 years ago. He said last year he was ending his competitive career in the British Open at St. Andrews, where he missed the cut. Now 66, the winner of 18 major championships hopes to stay in the background during the tournament this week. The only time the Golden Bear will hit the course is in the pro-am.

"It'll be strange to me," said Nicklaus, the only golfer to have played in each of the first 30 Memorials.

Woods has not played since he tied for third at Augusta National on April 9. His father, Earl, died May 3 in California, and Woods already has missed two tournaments he typically plays -- the Wachovia Championship and Byron Nelson Championship.

It was thought he would play the Memorial to give him one tournament before the U.S. Open on June 15-18. Indications late this week from Woods' camp are that he will play at Winged Foot.

Woods has never missed the Memorial since his first full season on the PGA Tour in 1997, winning three straight years from 1999-2001, and finishing no worse than a tie for fourth over the last three years.

Aside from the four major championships, the only tournaments Woods has never missed are the Bay Hill Invitational, The Players Championship, the NEC Invitational and the Tour Championship.

The Memorial is one of the premier events on the PGA Tour, created in 1976 with Nicklaus as the host and the Masters as somewhat of a blueprint. Nicklaus is often tinkering with the course, caddies wear white coveralls, there are no volunteers carrying scoreboards with each group and the staff at the club wears green jackets.

Notorious Micromanager

Perhaps most notorious as a micromanager in golf, Nicklaus will devote himself to making the Memorial even more of a prime stop on tour. It annually ranks among the most popular stops for the pros.

Still, he admits he doesn't know for certain what his role will be.

"I'll find something. I'll probably get a little bit more involved in the tournament, which I haven't been recently," Nicklaus said.