Golf Writers vote to boycott Tiger Woods statement

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HOUSTON -- The Board of Directors of the Golf Writers Association of America voted overwhelmingly Thursday not to participate as pool reporters today when Tiger Woods issues his first public statement in nearly three months.

"I cannot stress how strongly our board felt that this should be open to all media and also for the opportunity to question Woods," said Vartan Kupelian, president of the 950-member group.

"The position, simply put, is all or none. This is a major story of international scope. To limit the ability of journalists to attend, listen, see and question Woods goes against the grain of everything we believe."

The GWAA also believes strongly that its presence, without the ability to ask questions, gives credibility to an event that isn't worthy of it.

The vote reflected the sentiment. Nineteen voted for the proposal to protest by boycotting the proceedings. There were four votes against the proposal and three abstentions.

Woods' camp originally made available three pool reporter positions for today's statement by Woods, during which he is expected to offer his apologies for what he described on his website as "transgressions."

After extended negotiations, Woods' advisors agreed to increase the number of pool reporters to six. The offer was rejected. The pool reporters would have been selected by the GWAA.

Three wire services have been invited to report on the meeting. They are the Associated Press, Reuters and Bloomberg News Service.