Tiger Woods this afternoon pulled out of next week's Lancome Trophy in Paris. Woods was to have used the event as a warm-up for the Ryder Cup due to start at The Belfry in a fortnight's time, but the world's most famous sportsman does not feel he can travel so soon after Tuesday's terrorism in New York and Washington.
The whole of sport is now waiting to hear whether the Ryder Cup will go ahead and there was a rumour today that the decision of the American team has to be unanimous for them to make the trip.
A statement from the PGA of America last night said that a decision on whether the match takes place could still be days away.
"We are reassessing every logistic connected with the match," said chief executive officer Jim Awtrey. "This will require input from our government."
Woods was due to arrive in the French capital on Tuesday and then planned to link up with his cup team-mates on their arrival in Birmingham on Monday week.
But everything surrounding a match which is watched by millions and generates a profit in the region of Stg£10million has now been thrown into doubt.
The European tour, meanwhile, have agreed to allow all members of Europe's Ryder Cup team to file late entries into the event in Paris if they wish to play.
The size of the field is being increased to accommodate them following the cancellation of this week's American Express world championship in St Louis.
Welshman Phillip Price has already taken up the chance and officials are waiting to hear from others.
Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia and Thomas Bjorn, who pulled out of the world championship with a shoulder injury, were already in the starting line-up.
PA