New dad Woods bemoans lack of sleep

BETHESDA, Maryland: Tiger Woods says everything he has heard about new fathers being too busy to sleep is true.

The world's top-ranked player said he had received a wealth of advice about fatherhood but the "one common thread" about the experience was a lack of sleep.

"They say, 'Oh, yeah, get your sleep now'," Woods told a news conference on Tuesday.

"Yeah, whatever, I don't really sleep much," he would respond.

Thinking about those ominous conversations over the past few weeks, Woods quipped, "Well, I definitely don't sleep now."

Woods's wife Elin Nordegren gave birth to their first child, daughter Sam Alexis, on June 18, and the golfer said he feels guilty about not being home to change diapers this week.

The 31-year-old is preparing to play in the $6 million AT&T National, which begins on Thursday at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.

Woods conceded preparing for this tournament, his first since the birth, was "different, there's no doubt."

"You feel somewhat guilty for not being there and not helping out, but Elin's mom and my mom are both there to help her and try and make it as smooth as possible," he said.

Childhood nickname

Woods said his wife entered the hospital on June 16, the opening day of the US Open, with some minor complications. But he said there was nothing to be accomplished by withdrawing from the tournament.

"Everything was all right," said Woods, who finished second in the Open, and was able to be at his wife's side for Sam's birth. "It wasn't life threatening or anything, but she just had a few problems and had to be admitted.

"It wasn't easy. It was not easy because I wanted to be there. And the doctor and Elin said, 'There's nothing you can do. So go out there and just get a W.'

"Well, I came close. But that night (of the birth) was infinitely more rewarding than any W ever could have been."

Woods said his daughter was named after his own childhood nickname.

"My father had always called me Sam since the day I was born," he said. "He rarely ever called me Tiger. I would ask him, 'Why don't you ever call me Tiger?'

"He says, 'Well, you look more like a Sam.'

"I said, 'All right, that's cool.'"

Agencies

(China Daily 07/05/2007 page23)