Punters not put off by absent Tiger

Organisers say the absence through injury of Tiger Woods's has not put off the punters flocking to Royal Birkdale.

He said: "Funnily enough we are experiencing almost no fall off in attendances. Our advanced ticked sales are already 28 per cent ahead of 1998, so it looks as though there will be 200,000 people here over the week.

"If the weather isn't brilliant then we will finish up with 200,000, if the sunshine comes out then we could have over 230,000.

"People are coming to see The Open. It is disappointing Tiger is not here, but the fans think it is a special week and have made their minds up to come."

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson added: "Tiger is a big draw but I am not one who subscribes to the theory that [his absence] will devalue the tournament.

"Tiger would be first to accept he does not make or break a tournament, but we do miss him and hope he is back next year."