Tiger Woods continued yesterday to lament the tragic loss of Payne Stewart but insists that the show must go on at this week's Tour Championship in Houston.

Woods received an untimely reminder of Stewart's death in a plane crash when seeing the slot below his pro-am day tee-off time, which once held Stewart's name, was blank.

The world number one said: "That was a rude awakening. You think that hopefully it was a bad dream, a nightmare. But unfortunately, it came true. It's hard to believe he's not going to be here.

"The tournament should go on, but obviously, it's not going to be an easy week. It's going to be tough."

A memorial service for Stewart will be held tomorrow morning at the First Baptist Church of Orlando, however, and the USPGA Tour has altered the Tour Championship schedule to give players a chance to attend.

The tournament will begin with 27 holes today, have another 27 holes on Saturday and conclude on Sunday with an 18-hole round.

While the pro-am was cancelled, 22 players kept their date with four amateur partners. It was a form of therapy for some, although they played with no emotion and even less focus.

Among those who hadn't arrived was Davis Love III, whose father was killed in a plane crash in 1988.