Tiger to take it easy on overseas travel in 2007
 
Mar. 13, 2007

GLOBAL SLOWDOWN: Starting with his first full season as a professional, Tiger Woods has played at least twice overseas every year, not including the British Open.

But after a trip in early February to the Dubai Desert Classic, he's done traveling the globe this year.

"I'm taking a little time off this year," Woods said. "I'm not going overseas."

His contract to play the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan has expired, and Woods does not plan to compete in the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai , were he was runner-up the last two years. He also will not return this year to the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, where he lost in the first round to Shaun Micheel.

Most of his scheduling has to do with his family. His wife, Elin, is expecting their first child this summer.

"I still enjoy playing overseas. I always will play overseas," Woods said. "As far as the number of events I go to depends on where our family situation is, and how much time Elin needs me around."

Woods has competed in 14 countries outside North America .

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DALY OUT: John Daly withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with what doctors said was a dislocated rib that needs a few weeks of rest. Daly injured himself trying to stop in the middle of his swing at The Honda Classic when he heard a fan take a picture. He tried to play the following week at the PODS Championship but withdrew when pain forced him swing with one arm.

"It's in his right shoulder area," agent Bud Martin said. "He needs to rest for four or five days, and he should be OK. They don't think it's anything long term, and he took off Bay Hill as a precaution."

Daly is playing on sponsors' exemptions this year and has made the cut in two of seven starts. He next plans to play in Houston at the end of the month.

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ON TARGET: Tiger Woods says his new tournament in Washington will have no bearing on the Target World Challenge, a 16-man field at Sherwood Country Club in California held in December.

"It stays," Woods said last week. "We thoroughly enjoy it and think it's a wonderful tournament. The guys enjoy playing it, and there's nothing in the foreseeable future that it would go away."

The only thing Woods doesn't like about the Target is the dates -- held this year from Dec. 13-16, which makes it difficult for some players who are eligible for the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Hawaii two weeks later.

Now he must deal with another wrinkle.

The Australian Open has been moved to the same week, meaning Woods could lose Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy.

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DIVOTS: J.P. Hayes, who withdrew from the PODS Championship in the final round after feeling minor chest pains and dizziness, was released from a Tampa-area hospital on Monday. The TOUR said Hayes was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and flew home to El Paso , Texas for further tests.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved.