Tiger Woods Likely To Skip Turning Stone Event - Thursday, August 16, 2007

The Turning Stone Resort Championship begins in just over a month. Organizers are hoping to sell about 100,000 tickets. But it's likely you won't see Tiger Woods if you buy a ticket. On Wednesday Turing Stone CEO Ray Halbritter and PGA pro Notah Begay (the only Native American on the Tour) held a 'state of the tournament' news conference. Begay, who's serving at Turning Stone's ambassador, has known Tiger for 20 years and played with him at Stanford University. He said he's talked with Tiger about all the reasons why the Turning Stone Resort Championship is going to be a great event, but Tiger won't commit to playing. Here are some of the highlights from the news conference: Begay on getting Tiger: "It's certainly something that he's going to take a good like at over the next couple of years as the tournament grows. He doesn't make hasty decisions. As he sees the tournament grow he'll take a strong look at it." Halbritter on getting Tiger: "If Tiger ever does come here I'm sure we'll have the kind of facilities that the number-1 player would want." Begay on who else he's talked with about Turning Stone Resort Championship: "I've had some good talks with Jim Furyk. Guys who will add some real value to the field. I'm doing everything I can without getting on my knees and begging. That's certainly not out of the realm of possibility." Begay on the $6 million dollar purse: "The purse is certainly turning some heads. It's already the talk of many of the players in the locker room and on the range." Halbritter on the problem of Turning Stone's event coming after the Fed Ex Cup: "Those top players who are playing the Fed Ex Cup are going to want a week off before the President's Cup. So the issue is the timing of where we are. But then again you don't always know who's going to make the final week."