By Charles Farmer
Contributing Columnist
Columbus Post

We often hear of the impact that is felt when Tiger Woods is not competing on the Pro Golfers Association (PGA) Tour. The biggest impact his absence has is usually on the number of people who actually tune in to watch weekly tournaments on television.

With the PGA tour making a stop in Dublin, Ohio, right outside of Columbus, it provided an opportunity to see how the absence of the world's number one and perhaps most popular golfer would affect The Memorial Tournament.
Woods is still recuperating from knee surgery and declined earlier to participate in The Memorial, instead deciding to try and make a comeback at the U.S. Open.
The Memorial Tournament is unique simply because it is heavily endorsed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus and held on the course he helped design. That fact in itself is worth its weight in gold because most modern-day golfers want to impress Nicklaus, The "Golden Bear," by winning his event.
Woods has the utmost respect for Nicklaus and tries to play the Memorial as often as possible in order to pay homage to the Ohio native.
Another noteworthy absentee was Vijay Singh who also withdrew from the tournament, but The Memorial rolled forward as some of the less-publicized golfers saw the opportunity to receive some recognition by winning an event which still included some of the world's top golfers, just not Woods.
Kentucky native Kenny Perry who finished eight under was crowned the winner of the 2008 Memorial and joined Tiger Woods as the only other three-time champion of the tournament. Perry also became the tournament's oldest winner at age 47 and earned his 10th career PGA victory.
Three strokes off the lead entering the final round, Perry finished with an incredible, 3-under-par 69.
Other notable contenders included Justin Rose, Mike Weir, Jerry Kelly and Mathew Goggin who all finished six under, two back of Perry.
But without Woods in attendance, The Memorial had a different look and feel, as the fan galleries which normally are packed to capacity, allowed people to move about freely and actually pick their spots to watch certain golfers play throughout the tournament.
I find it quite amazing and somewhat bizarre how one person (Woods) can have such an affect on a large marquee event like The Memorial Tournament.
The diehard golf fans still attended the tournament but I am sure a number of people chose to stay away or donated their tickets to others after Woods absence was revealed.
Let's face it, some people love to watch the traveling circus known as "The Tiger Woods Experience" when it comes to town, perhaps to just catch a glimpse of greatness, which no one can blame them for doing.
In the end, it comes down to what is important to the individual sports fan or golf enthusiast that determines whether or not they will attend, but if Woods returns next year, the galleries will be packed once again.
At this point I am sure it does not matter to Perry who shows up to play at The Memorial as long as he keeps winning.

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