• The Open Championship

Woods ducks gender issue at Muirfield

ESPN staff
July 17, 2013
Woods targets Open Championship

Tiger Woods refused to be drawn into the discussion of Muirfield's male-only membership policy on the eve of the Open.

Muirfield is one of three British courses to host the Open whose membership policy excludes women, along with Royal St George's and Troon.

And in the wake of the admission of the first female members at Augusta National, home of The Masters, in 2012, the issue has dominated the build-up to the year's third major.

But when asked if such gender discrimination was any different to the racial discrimination incurred in previous generations, world No. 1 Woods deflected the question.

"I don't make the policies here. I'm not a member so I'm not going to speak for the club," Woods told The Scotsman.

Asked whether he was comfortable playing at Muirfield, the 14-time major champion added: "We've played the Masters, we've played here and I don't know of any other places."

Woods is without a major victory in over five years, but insists the drought owes more to bad fortune than any hint of decline in his powers.

"It's just a shot here and there," the 37-year-old told The Telegraph. "It's making a key up-and-down or getting a good bounce, or capitalising on an opportunity.

"This year at Augusta was an example. I played well and a good shot ended up having a bad break [when his ball ricocheted off the flag into the water hazard]. So it's not much. It's turning that tide and getting the momentum at the right time. That's what you have to do win majors."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices