Justin Rose described his astonishment yesterday that the form player of the moment will not be at the Open Championship this week.
Mark Garrod
Justin Rose described his astonishment yesterday that the form player of the moment will not be at the Open Championship this week.
Injury keeps the world No.1 Tiger Woods and England's Luke Donald away from Royal Birkdale, but it was world No.16, Kenny Perry, to whom Rose referred. The only thing keeping Perry away from Southport and the chance to win a first major - unquestionably the best of his life, given his form and Woods's absence - is that he wants to play the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee instead.
"He's arguably the best player in the world right now and I find it amazing he's not here," said Rose, who three years ago was prepared to travel to two majors as a reserve but missed out each time. "It's obviously one less guy to beat, because you could pretty much guarantee he was going to be on the leaderboard on Sunday," he added.
Perry lifted his third title in seven weeks at the John Deere Classic in Illinois on Sunday, but had already decided he would not be taking up his exempt spot, a decision made only a month after he chose not to try to qualify for the US Open.
"His priority was obviously to qualify for the Ryder Cup, but that's clearly signed, sealed and delivered, so this is a trip that wouldn't hurt his prospects," said Rose. "It's strange. I couldn't imagine opting out of majors - it's what I want to judge myself on by the end of my career.
"Kenny is 47 years old and has different goals and who knows what makes him tick. He's maybe found a formula right now that he doesn't want to mess with."
Perry, who has played only four Opens since his debut 17 years ago, declared himself content with his decision. He explained: "I played Birkdale in 91, missed the cut there. My stroke average at the British Open is 76-point whatever," he said, not mentioning finishing eighth at Sandwich in 2003 and 16th and 11th the following two years.
"I'm not good when it gets 40 and 50 degrees and 50-mile an hour winds. I'm a hot-weather guy."
The American, Jim Furyk, joint fourth with Rose the last time the Open was at Birkdale 10 years ago, also had things to say about Perry. "To the best of my knowledge you can't win if you don't play," said the former US Open champion.
"I would find it very difficult to stay at home when I had the opportunity to play in a major championship.
"I have missed a bunch of cuts here and was down on myself coming to the Open Championship, but you can't win on the couch.
"That said, that decision is not for me to make and I'm not criticising him. Kenny has got three wins under his belt and the beauty of our game is you are your own boss and you can pick and choose.
"He hits a real high ball and he probably doesn't love playing links golf from that shot, but the way he's playing right now he could play anywhere in the world."
The no-show by Perry is unlikely to have any effect on crowds this week, but judging by pre-ticket sales Woods' non-presence is not going to reduce the galleries either.
David Hill, the championship secretary, said that advance sales were up around 15% on the 1998 Open. "There might be some sports fans who won't be coming now because of Tiger, but golf fans will always come to The Open," he said.
