Woods juggles own PGA Tour event with birth of first child

WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) Tiger Woods, a master of time management, accepts he may have to sacrifice playing in his own tournament because of the impending arrival of his first child.

The world number one's Swedish wife Elin is expected to give birth in early July, while the inaugural AT&T National takes place in Bethesda, Maryland from July 5-8.

''I'm going to try and play,'' Woods said yesterday at Congressional Country Club during a media day for the PGA Tour event run by his charitable Tiger Woods Foundation.

''My intent is to play, although my wife might have something to say about that. I want to play here. I love this golf course, and especially an inaugural event.

''But as everyone understands, our number one priority in our lives is our child. You get to witness it for the first time only once and I want to be there to be with her in that moment.'' Woods, who makes his final PGA Tour appearance before next month's U.S. Open at this week's Memorial tournament in Dublin, Ohio, conceded he had conflicting priorities over the coming weeks.

''There are quite a few challenges and probably time management skills are certainly tested,'' the 31-year-old American said.

''Then again, these are all things that are very exciting: hosting your first Tour event, playing the U.S. Open and, above all, having the birth of your first child.'' Woods will achieve a long-standing ambition when he becomes a tournament host for the first time on the PGA Tour.

''It was a goal and a dream of my father and I,'' said the 12-times major winner who lost his father Earl last year after a long battle with cancer.

''I just wish he could have been here to see it because he would have been so proud of what we're going to put on. It's something that's near and dear to my heart.'' The Tiger Woods Foundation will serve as the host organisation and primary charitable beneficiary of the AT&T National which will recognise and honour the men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces.

Reuters BJR DB0927