Like baked beans for breakfast and gloomy skies, a Open wouldn't be the same without its share of tabloid journalists.

In a pre-tournament interview session, one reporter asked three-time Open winner Nick Faldo of England whether or not a woman might be able to distract Tiger Woods from golf.

"Who is she and where is she and how much can we pay her -- not in that sense," Faldo said. "Maybe in that sense. We've got to wear him out somehow, haven't we?"

Faldo said he didn't think Woods would succumb to such a "distraction."

"I think he's committed," Faldo added. "I would be very surrprised if he gets sidetracked, very surprised.

"I would think that his goal, to go and do all this great stuff, and then he'll worry about that thing and everything later. I think his golf comes first. That's speculation."

Another writer questions Spanish star Sergio Garcia about his love life, particularly whether tennis star girlfriend Martina Hingis would be present this week.

"No, she's not going to be here," Garcia responded. "She's recovering from her ankle surgery and she's doing actually quite well. She's getting ready to hopefully playing some tournaments soon." ...

Hall of Famer Tom Watson touched on a few subjects Wednesday, including the argument by the game's elder statesmen of whether the world's elite players are giving Woods a good enough fight.

"All the players who contend all have Achilles heels, like every great player in the past" Watson said, quoting Lee Trevino. "But Tiger seems to have none." ...

With Augusta National recently being questioned for its exclusivity of women, Open Secretary Peter Dawson fielded a similar question regarding Muirfield Golf Links, which also prevents females from joining.

Dawson responded to the criticism of two Royal and Ancient ministers on the decision to continue to keep Muirfield in the Open rotation.

"We announced this was going to be the venue for the Open Championship four or five years ago," Dawson said. "It's strange we have had no remarks from the ministers in all that time about the choice of venue, but during the week of the championship suddenly we do.

"In Scotland there are many all-women clubs as well as all-men's. It's just the way the game has developed. It doesn't imply anything, and we're here because this is one of the finest links in the world, and what you're seeing out there is a crowd coming to watch the championships."

Kenny Perry, who is ranked 20th in the world, withdrew from the tournament Tuesday night. Open officials received a fax from his manager, who did not disclose the reason.

Perry was replaced by Tom Whitehouse, the first reserve from North Berwick. Whitehouse came through regional qualifying at Little Aston, where he shot 71, and originally was one of the reserves for a place in final qualifying. ...

Irishman Des Smyth is in the first trio of the tournament Thursday with Peter Baker and James Kingston, but he may not be healthy enough to compete.

Smyth strained a muscle in his leg Moday while stretching out in his car in the golf course's parking lot. He flied from Switzerland on Monday and slept for some 30 minutes before waking to a pain in his lower back and right leg.

The 49-year-old Smyth, who has won eight titles in Europe, played a practice round Tuesday but did not tee it up Wednesday, choosing instead to spend time on the practice green.

Smyth has undergone extensive treatment on his leg and is taking anti-inflammatory medicine. This could be his last Open as he plans to join the Senior Tour next season.

A native of Drogheda, Ireland, Smyth became the oldest winner in European PGA Tour history at last year's Madeira Island Open, claiming the title at 48 years and 34 days.

He qualified for this year's British Open by tying for 13th last year.

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