TIGER THE TOAST OF MELBOURNEBy Brendan James
Golf Australia Editor
Live @ The Australian Masters
Melbourne has never seen anything like it.
Tiger Woods' much anticipated return to our shores and the Australian Masters began under the constant buzz of news helicopters and amid record crowds today.
The World No.1 had been expected to arrive at Kingston Heath shortly after dawn and there were plenty of fans waiting at each of the course gates as the sun broke across the sand-belt layout.
But Woods chose instead to hit warm up balls in solitude at the neighbouring and very exclusive Capital Golf Club. Word quickly got around that Woods would hit off with former Australian Masters champion Craig Parry at 8am. As the throng of fans gathered around the 1st tee and began lining the par-5, Woods, Parry and their entourage, including five security men, scooted across to the 10th tee.
By the time the pairing hit their tee shots word had got out and there were hundreds of golf fans flocking to get a glimpse. By the time Woods and Co. reached the 18th green, an estimated 7,500 people were clinging to the gallery ropes.
This all begs the question. Have we all gone Tiger mad?
In his post-practice press conference, Woods was asked: "Is it like this all the time?"
"Certainly not ... not like this," Tiger laughed.
Yes, Tiger is the word on everyone's lips in Melbourne and the man smiling all the way to the bank is Victorian Premier John Brumby. Not only did he snatch the world's best golfer from under the nose of the NSW Government, who originally wanted Woods to be top billing of the Australian Open, he is now boasting a Tiger-led economic stimulus to the Victorian economy in excess of $35 million.
That's not a bad return on their US$3 million outlay of public money to get him here. No wonder he's the toast of Melbourne.
Tomorrow: Check out Golf Australia's exclusive Australian Masters form guide including our selections.
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