There is a bit of a sour taste at the Byron Nelson Championship this week, as eight of the top ten golfers in the world rankings aren’t competing, including Tiger Woods. Many golf writers are calling it a slap in the face to the late Nelson, who passed away last fall.

“What ‘prior arrangements’ could possibly be more important than playing for mad cash at a late legend’s tournament?

Well we know what Tiger’s up to. Tonight he’s court side at the Pistons-Magic NBA Playoff game in Orlando cheering on another sports superstar. We’re all familiar with his relationship with dominant athletes like Michael Jordan, Roger Federer..and now Orlando’s Darko Milicic!

I’m with Tiger and the other seven top ten players not feeling the need to show up and we shouldn’t try and guilt trip them. This isn’t spitting on a legend’s grave by not competing this week. Golf is a mentally draining sport and you can’t play your hardest week in, week out. Byron’s not there anymore, and now the tournament isn’t as special. As a result, more elite players will take a pass, especially with the addition of the FedEx Cup.

The golf world not only paid tremendous respect to Nelson when he passed away, but many times over the last several decades. As long as there is pro golf, we’ll be paying respects to Nelson in a variety of ways.

But in 2007, the BDS Byron Nelson Championship is just another event.