Tiger's Aussie trip 'about more than just money'

ArticleData Array ( [Article] => Array ( [article_id] => 1127777 [headline] => Tiger's Aussie trip 'about more than just money' [abstract] => Tiger Woods' agent says he fields dozens of offers from tournaments around the world each year. So why did he choose Melbourne?
[keywords] => Tiger Woods, Melbourne, golf, sport [content] =>

Tiger Woods' agent says he fields dozens of offers from tournaments around the world each year hoping to lure the world's greatest golfer to their particular event.
   
So why, from all these invitations, did Woods decide to play in the Australian Masters starting on Thursday?

It's not only because of the $US3 million appearance fee, because Woods can get a similar figure from any number of tournaments.
   
Part of it is to do with scheduling, as Woods is already in the relative vicinity, playing in the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.
   
More than anything, though, it seems Kingston Heath's reputation as one of the worlds great courses was the catalyst that led to the deal to bring the 14-time major winner back to Australia for the first time in 11 years.
   
"He (Woods) has long said sandbelt courses are ones he really enjoys and respects, so it was a factor for sure," Mark Steinberg said on Sunday.
   
"Every year, I talk to dozens of tournaments around the world about the potential of Tiger visiting. He likes to travel around the world and likes to help grow the game.
   
"He hasn't been back to Australia in quite some time. It's a great part of the world, he's playing one of the best golf courses in the world and it sounds like the fans are eagerly anticipating his arrival."
   
Steinberg, who also heads the golf division of the powerful International Management Group, indicated that the trust he developed in Brendan McClements, chief of the Victorian Major Events Company that negotiated the deal, didn't hurt either.

"He's just a straight-up honest guy," Steinberg continued.

"He and I met early last year and had a constructive conversation and tried to develop what would be the best way to bring Tiger there.
   
"He's been a pleasure to deal with and I like people that do what they say they're going to do, and they're organising it the way we've all talked about."
   
Steinberg refused to reveal any of Woods planned off-course movements, citing security concerns.

Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who will be the second highest-ranked player in the field, hopes that Woods visit will inspire some youngsters to take up golf.
   
"I think there'll be a knock-on effect," Ogilvy said.

"We get good crowds in Melbourne but he's going to bring some people who haven't been to a golf tournament in a while. Hopefully they'll think it's fun and do it again."

Ogilvy would be happy to play with Woods, but thinks it would probably be better for a couple of young players to be part of the Woods threesome for the first two rounds, before the draw becomes automatic.
   
"I play with him a lot. If I play with him I will enjoy it as always but it would also be quite relaxing and nice to play on the other side of the draw and get away from him.

"There are plenty of good candidates of young Australians who it would be cool to see play with him."
 

[start_date] => 09 November 2009 | 09:39:48 AM [comments_allowed] => 1 [source] => AFP [commentCount] => 0 [video] => [image] => [audio] => [reporter] => [relatedLinks] => Array ( [2] => Array ( [id] => 1127752 [label] => Tiger Woods arrives in Melbourne [display_order] => 0 [type] => Article ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 1127176 [label] => Mickelson takes Shanghai lead to set up Tiger showdown [display_order] => 0 [type] => Article ) [0] => Array ( [id] => 1126632 [label] => Woods finds his putting edge to share Shanghai lead [display_order] => 0 [type] => Article ) ) [relatedArticles] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [article_id] => 1126632 [headline] => Woods finds his putting edge to share Shanghai lead [abstract] => SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Tiger Woods birdied his final hole to complete a second round five-under-par 67 that moved him into a share of the lead with American compatriot Nick Watney at the halfway stage of the WGC-HSBC Champions on Friday. [content] =>

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Tiger Woods birdied his final hole to complete a second round five-under-par 67 that moved him into a share of the lead with American compatriot Nick Watney at the halfway stage of the WGC-HSBC Champions on Friday.

The world number one had spurned a raft of birdie chances early on another sunny day at the Sheshan International but made no mistake with a short putt at the 18th and joined first round leader Watney, who shot a 70, on 10-under for the tournament.

World number two Phil Mickelson picked up his sixth birdie of the day at the last for a 66 to stand a stroke behind the leaders, alongside compatriot Ryan Moore (69) and Spain's Alvaro Quiros (66) in a share of third.

Woods, runner-up on both his previous visits to Shanghai, backed off his opening drive a couple of times because of cameras clicking in the gallery but recovered his composure sufficiently to start his round with a birdie.

There followed a succession of missed birdie putts before an errant drive at the sixth left him bashing a rubbish bin with his club in frustration.

The error resulted in the sole blemish of his round but he finally got a putt down at the ninth and came home in four-under-par, the highlight of his back nine a 20-ft chip-in for birdie from the rough above a greenside bunker at the 16th.

GOOD START

"Today got off to a good start and I birdied the very first hole," Woods told reporters. "But after that, I didn't really make any putts. I had certainly some looks at them and didn't really capitalise on anything.

"It certainly was a little bit frustrating, but the guys weren't running off and hiding. I knew if I could just play the back nine at three under par... I figured that would probably be a pretty good number. And I did better than that."

Watney, who fired a course record equalling 64 in the first round, also finished strongly with birdies at his last two holes to make up for a double bogey at the fourth.

"Whatever the lead is at, that's not going to win the golf tournament so I need to go out and keep playing well and keep making birdies to have any shot," the 28-year-old Californian said.

Mickelson, the winner here two years ago, chipped-in twice in a round which also got better towards the end, with birdies at three of his last four holes.

"I'm pleased with where I put myself after two rounds," the lefthander added. "There's a lot of guys there and I'll need to play very well on the weekend, but I'm in a good position."

Anthony Kim hit a huge five wood on his way to eagling the 18th for a 69, which left him alone in sixth place on eight-under as Americans dominated the leaderboard.

South African Ernie Els hit a hole-in-one at the par three sixth hole but a couple of double-bogeys undid his good work and he registered a 71 for a share of 23rd on three-under.

(Editing by John O'Brien)

[content_type_id] => 3 [site_name] => World News Australia [articledate] => 6 November 2009 [articletime] => 6 November 2009 [display_order] => 0 ) [1] => Array ( [article_id] => 1127176 [headline] => Mickelson takes Shanghai lead to set up Tiger showdown [abstract] => SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson shot a third-round five-under-par 67 to take a two-shot lead at the $7 million (4.2 million pound) WGC-HSBC Champions on Saturday, setting up a rare head-to-head battle with Tiger Woods on the final day. [content] =>

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson shot a third-round five-under-par 67 to take a two-shot lead at the $7 million (4.2 million pound) WGC-HSBC Champions on Saturday, setting up a rare head-to-head battle with Tiger Woods on the final day.

World number two Mickelson finished the day at 14-under for the tournament, while Woods and Nick Watney, who shared the lead overnight, both shot 70s to ensure an all-American leading group on Sunday.

Despite being the best two players in the world in recent years, Woods and Mickelson have not often been put together in the leading group final round with a title up for grabs.

Mickelson, who won here in 2007, picked up three shots in his first five holes to join Woods and Watney at the top of the leaderboard before dropping off with a bogey five when he found the trees at the ninth.

Woods, playing a hole behind his rival, had reaped the benefit of superb approach shots at the second and fifth holes to convert short putts for birdies that put him on 12-under.

The 14-times major champion then drained a nine-foot putt at the eighth to take the lead on his own for the first time in the tournament but was pegged back when his drive found a bunker on the ninth fairway and he missed a six-footer for par.

Another birdie straight after the turn was cancelled out by a bogey at the 11th and he could only manage pars down the remainder of the back nine, recovering well after finding the rough with his drive and bunker with his approach at the last.

Up ahead, Mickelson also played par golf before his round reignited with birdies at the 14th and 15th and he completed his 67 with a huge grin on his face after another at the signature 18th.

"It was a good round and I was pleased to shoot a 67 ... I didn't make too many big mistakes," said Mickelson, who won the WGC-CA Championship earlier this year.

Another American, Ryan Moore, chipped in for eagle at the second but bogeys either side of the turn hurt his cause. He rallied with birdies at his last two holes for a 70 to remain alone in fourth, three shots off the pace.

Briton Lee Westwood, who leads the European Tour's "Race to Dubai" standings, bagged eight birdies for a superb 65 to put at least one non-American on the leaderboard in fifth place at 10 under.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

[content_type_id] => 3 [site_name] => World News Australia [articledate] => 7 November 2009 [articletime] => 7 November 2009 [display_order] => 0 ) [2] => Array ( [article_id] => 1127752 [headline] => Tiger Woods arrives in Melbourne [abstract] => World golfing great Tiger Woods has touched down in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Golf Masters.
[content] =>

World golfing great Tiger Woods hasarrived in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Golf Masters.

The world number one golfer is expected to generate great interest while he is in Melbourne.

His visit for the masters tournament has been described as a coup for Melbourne.

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