It was a winless and probably pretty joyless 2010 for Tiger Woods. This time
a year ago, his life was falling apart around him and he withdrew from this
tournament. Officially, he pulled out of last year`s championship due to the
injuries suffered in the one-car accident just a week before. It was soon
after that we learned the full extent of what was happening. This event
features an 18-man field comprised of the current four major winners who
accept invitations, the top-11 available from the Official World Golf
Rankings, the defending champion and two special-exemption players. Those
sponsor exemptions were handed out to Camilo Villegas and Stewart Cink. The
event was dealt a blow early in the week when Martin Kaymer, the PGA Champion
and winner of the European Tour`s season-long Race to Dubai on Sunday,
withdrew. He was replaced by Nick Watney. Jim Furyk, this year`s FedExCup
winner, shot a five-under 67 on Sunday last year to edge reigning U.S. Open
champion Graeme McDowell by a single stroke. The victory, although
unofficial, was his first since the 2007 Canadian Open. McDowell got into the
tournament only because of Woods` withdrawal. What a difference a year made
for both. This is the 12th year of the event and 11th straight at Sherwood.
Golf Channel has the first two rounds before NBC takes over on the weekend.
Beginning Friday of next week is the Shark Shootout, which was won in 2009 by
Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker
