Tiger Woods is out, Phil Mickelson's sitting on the fence and David Toms is trying to decide whether to attend a college football game or the Canadian Open.

The countdown is on for the lone PGA Tour stop north of the border as players have until 5 p.m. ET Friday to commit to next week's event, which will be played at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Tournament director Bill Paul is logging long hours trying to secure the strongest field possible. He got the official word on Monday that Woods won't be coming to the event after playing the three tournaments leading up to it.

``I'm disappointed in the fact that it's too bad he couldn't play, but I understand the reasons,'' Paul said from Hamilton on Tuesday.

Woods won the 2000 Canadian Open at Glen Abbey and tied for 23rd in 2001 at Royal Montreal, the last time he played in Canada.

Paul lobbied hard for him to return this year and thought it was possible as recently as a few weeks back, when the two met over breakfast at the Buick Open in Michigan.

``The fact that we got some consideration is good,'' said Paul.

Others are still weighing their options.

Mickelson told the Toronto Star two weeks ago that he wouldn't be coming but Paul is still hopeful it might happen because he hasn't yet received an official answer.

Toms is a huge Louisiana State University Tigers football fan and won't be able to attend the team's game in Baton Rouge on Sept. 9 _ the Saturday night of the tournament _ and play at Hamilton.

``LSU football is very, very important to him,'' Paul said. ``He needs to make a decision. I'm at his mercy and I can't do any more. He's just got to want to come up here.''

The same goes for Davis Love III, who will likely attend the 2007 Canadian Open because he's helping with a re-design to the Angus Glen North Course where it will be held.

He hasn't made up his mind yet about this year, though.

Paul has been in charge of this event since 1992 _ which feels like ``103 years,'' he joked _ and knows not to take anything for granted when trying to pinpoint exactly which players will show up.

``Nothing surprises me anymore,'' he said. ``It surprises a lot of other people, but it doesn't surprise me.''

His list of commitments so far is strong and suggests that the tournament will probably have its deepest field in years.

Jim Furyk, second on the PGA money list, has said he'll play at Hamilton as have U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and 2004 Canadian Open winner Vijay Singh.

Fan favourite John Daly is also scheduled to attend along with U.S. Ryder Cup players Chris DiMarco and Stewart Cink.

Mike Weir and Stephen Ames will headline a strong group of Canadians, which will include up-and-comers James Lepp, Chris Baryla and Richard Scott.

``And I suspect we're going to get a lot more commitments based on players I've booked into hotels that haven't committed yet,'' said Paul.

In the meantime, he'll continue to be in contact with as many people as possible.

Paul says he has been receiving almost 200 e-mails a day and was at his office in Oakville, Ont., at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday. He's also spent the last three weeks working at the golf course.

A key to his job is reminding players about the upcoming deadline without annoying them.

``You don't want to overstay your welcome,'' he said.

Woods heads to this week's Deutsche Bank Classic in Boston having won his last four starts, including the PGA Championship two weeks ago and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last weekend.

Paul gave Woods a sponsor's exemption into the event just after he turned pro 10 years ago and knows how big a boost having him in the field would have been.

Still, he's learned to take decisions from all players in stride.

``You have highs and you have lows,'' said Paul. ``But onward we go.''