Perry is a touchy subject

His absence drawing cautious comments

SOUTHPORT, England - There are millionaire golfers at every turn of the head, 156 players in all, and a championship that overflows with rich, historical flavor.

Yet in the days leading up to the 137th British Open, much of the news has revolved around who isn't here.

Tiger Woods's absence, of course, has been well documented. The game's top player won the US Open June 15, had reconstructive knee surgery the following week, and is sidelined until early 2009. His absence is a topic of conversation every 12.7 seconds, and the rate is growing more frequent by the moment.

Causing much less of a stir was the news over the weekend that Luke Donald had withdrawn with a wrist injury. Since he's an Englishman, Donald's absence resonates locally, but the more publicized angle to the story - at least as far as the British press is concerned - revolves around the 30-year-old's quest to make Europe's Ryder Cup team.

Then there's a third missing piece to this year's British Open puzzle - 48-year-old American Kenny Perry. Merely the hottest player in the world with three wins in seven weeks, Perry chose not to accept his exemption into the Open Championship. You can just imagine the field day the British press is having with that, but you'd be hard-pressed to say Perry's fellow players are exactly storming to his defense.

Mostly, players have taken a route similar to that expressed by Jim Furyk. That is, they don't agree with Perry's choice to stay home, but they aren't going to rip him.

"To the best of my knowledge, you can't win if you never play," said Furyk. "From a personal standpoint, I'd have a very difficult time staying home when I had the opportunity to play in any major championship. You can't win on the couch. That being said, that decision wouldn't be for me, but I'm not Kenny Perry. It's his prerogative and I'm not criticizing him."

Said Geoff Ogilvy, "It's his deal. I wouldn't do it, but then again, I'm not in Kenny Perry's shoes." Then, noting that Perry has said that now that he's 47, majors aren't as important to him as they once were, Ogilvy added, "He's at a different stage of his life than I am. I might not even be playing golf when I'm [that age]."

Times a changin'

Anthony Kim arrived in town Sunday morning after an overnight flight, and since it's his first visit to this championship, he followed the advice he had been given and stayed awake rather than take a nap. But after getting to Royal Birkdale, registering, playing nine holes, and having something to eat, the 22-year-old was ready for bed. The fact that it was 6 p.m. was a bit disconcerting, however. "I definitely go to bed closer to 6 in the morning than 6 at night," said Kim, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year . . . Obviously, Kim did not secure his advice from 58-year-old Tom Watson, who conceded his routine for these transatlantic travels isn't what it used to be. Arriving Monday morning, Watson said he got to his hotel, "unpacked, and hit the bed and three hours later woke up. At my age, you need naps." . . . As for Kim's first impressions of links golf, one thing stood out. "In the US, you aim for bunkers. Here you don't." . . . Hunter Mahan tuned up with some fun golf at the European Club in Ireland.

Wind is gusting

Ah, only the wind is as dependable at a British Open as a Colin Montgomerie quote. Explaining to reporters why tomorrow's first-round pairing in which he's involved is unique, the Scotsman said, "I'm different and Boo [Weekley] is different - and Mike Weir is going to feel different because he's normal." . . . He's well known for having viewpoints on everything from the Social Security dilemma to the gas crisis, so it was surprising to hear Phil Mickelson say, well, nothing, when asked about Woods's absence. "I am working hard to get my game ready for this week," said the lefthander, who surely needs to work hard coming into an Open Championship, given that he's had but one top-10 finish in 15 starts and 10 times has been outside the top 30. Reporters pushed onward, asking Mickelson if he could offer one comment. "Oh, I'm sure I could," he said, "but right now my focus is on this week." Showing no quit, a reporter asked Mickelson if he felt this week offered a great opportunity for a lot of players, though the questioner never added "without Woods." But the cagey lefthander wasn't going to fall for that one. He merely said, "I think there is a tremendous opportunity for guys to finish the year strong. But again, for me, I'm trying to take it a little slower."

Trying to keep up

As the local bookmakers accept the public's sentiments - backed by cash, of course - it's clear Sergio Garcia will be the favorite. No surprise. After all, he was one back through 54 holes two years ago and led by three heading into the final round last summer, so it's clear this style of golf suits him. There are other factors involved, too. Some of them are quantified - he won The Players back in May. Some of them could be placed under the heading of "fate," meaning the roll his countrymen from Spain seem to be on. "With the Spanish [soccer] team winning the Euro Cup and [Rafael] Nadal winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon, [I'm] just trying to keep up with my fellow countrymen," said Garcia. And if he were to win, which of the three triumphs would resonate the most in Spain? "Without a question, the [soccer]," he said, adding that it had been 44 years since the Spaniards last won the Euro Cup. Pressed further, he was asked who would rate second, he or Nadal? Garcia smiled. "Me," he said.

Parry thrust to fore

The honor of launching the festivities in tomorrow's first round has been bestowed upon Craig Parry, who'll fire the opening tee shot. The good news is, he and playing competitors Lucas Glover and Simon Dyson know they'll have pristine greens on which to putt. The bad news is, they're due at the first tee at 6:30 a.m. (that's 1:30 for you folks in Boston). "It's a great time and it's a real distinction to be teeing off first in a British Open," said Parry. "The good aspect also is that I won't be last out in the afternoon [Friday], so I'm thrilled." . . . The first marquee group will go off in Game 9 (2:58 a.m. - defending champ Padraig Harrington, who is bothered by a sore right wrist and cut back a practice round yesterday), Retief Goosen, and Justin Leonard . . . Unlike the US Open and PGA Championship, which both have gone to two-tee starts, the British Open sends everyone off the first tee. That means tee times will stretch for a whopping 9 hours 51 minutes. When that moment arrives that Peter Appleyard of England delivers the 156th and final tee shot off No. 1, only then will legendary starter Ivor Robson be free to leave. The first order of business for Robson, one must assume, is to go to the bathroom, because it's always been a badge of honor for him that he never leaves his post until that last player has carried on . . . In the Daily Mail, tee times for Round 1 indicated that Parry is an amateur. And to think, he's been collecting paychecks for 23 years.