Tiger Woods has 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 does not feel he can travel so soon after Tuesday's terrorism in America.

"Due to the tragic events over the past few days I have decided not to compete in next week's Trophee Lancome in Paris," he said on his personal website, www.TigerWoods.com.

"I don't believe this is an appropriate time to play competitive golf. I feel strongly that this is a time to pause, reflect and remember the victims of Tuesday's horrific attack.

"I have always felt that I must be fully committed to each and every golf competition I enter, but due to this week's events, I am not.

"I also fear that the security risks of travelling overseas at the present time are too great."

The European Tour have agreed to allow all members of the Ryder Cup team to file late entries into the Lancome Trophy 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.

Phillip Price has already taken up the chance and officials are waiting to hear from others.

The golf world is now waiting to hear whether the Ryder Cup will go ahead as planned at The Belfry on September 28th-30th and there was a rumour yesterday that the decision of the American team has to be unanimous for them to make the trip.

A statement from the PGA of America said that a decision on whether the match would take place could still be days away, although they expressed the wish that it would.

"We continue to have discussions with US captain Curtis Strange and have communicated to a number of players that the safety of the team and their families is of utmost importance," said chief executive officer Jim Awtrey.

"It is our desire for the Ryder Cup matches to go forward. Having said that, the magnitude of the matches requires many logistics which are impacted by the events of his week.

"We are reassessing every logistic connected with the matches - a process which will take a number of days and which will require input from our government."

Whether Woods would play is another question. But everything surrounding the Ryder Cup has now been thrown into doubt.

Ireland's Paul McGinley fears retaliation by America over the terrorist attacks this week will place the event in even greater jeopardy.

Serious doubts have already been raised about the contest being staged.

The majority of this week's sporting events in America - and others around the world - have been postponed or cancelled as a mark of respect.

"The decision to cancel the American Express event was taken democratically and the overwhelming opinion was not to play," said McGinley. "It's the same with the Ryder Cup. The decision must be made democratically and I think we are going to have some Americans not wanting to come.

"The problem will be that you are going to have some kind of retaliation from the American government in the next two weeks. That will be the biggest problem for the Ryder Cup.

"It's a horrible situation and a horrible decision for people to have to make."

The only occasion the Ryder Cup has been cancelled was on the outbreak of the second World War but this is clearly the most serious situation which has been faced since then.

However, there appears to have been a change in opinion among some American players, particularly Mark Calcavecchia who earlier this week had called for the event to be postponed.

"You've got to move on. If you don't, you're giving in," he said. "If you would have asked me yesterday, I'd probably say that it wouldn't be played. Ask me again next Monday or Tuesday and you might get a different answer. It's a timing thing.

"Time heals all wounds, and maybe next week it won't seem so bad. Maybe it will.

"If they play, I'll be there. If they don't, I'll support that as well."

The Australasia Tour has suffered a massive blow with the news that Australia's biggest tournament, the Greg Norman International, has been cancelled.

The event was due to be played at The Lakes from February 7th-10th and the cancellation leaves Sydney without a tournament in the 2002 season.