Tiger may skip the Open

There is a distinct possibility that Open champion Tiger Woods will not be present at the 2007 renewal at Carnoustie after he revealed that the tournament may clash with the birth of his first child.

The baby is due in July and Woods has stated that if his wife Elin looks like giving birth in or around Open week (July 19-22) then he will sacrifice an attempt on a fourth Open title to stay at home.

"If it happens, it happens ? if it crosses over, it crosses over," he said.

"The birth is the most important thing in the world ? not another golf tournament. I just wouldn't go. If Elin is going to have it during the week of the Open I simply won't make the trip. Our priorities do change. Usually with golf you just prepare for the here and now, but now we are looking a little further into the future."

Woods also moved to silence the debate about his much publicised winning steak on the PGA Tour. The world number one has won six consecutive stroke play tournaments dating back to June 2006 and his run has led to much talk about him matching Byron Nelson's mark of 11 straight wins in 1945. However, Tiger is eager to play down the streak and its significance.

"It's a PGA Tour streak ? not really a winning streak," he said.

"I lost at the HSBC World Match Play in England, I lost the Ryder Cup and I didn't win in China or Japan. You could say that I was on a losing streak there for a while."

Woods is currently preparing for this week's Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in California where he will be looking to win the event for a fifth time.