"Thanks for coming to Australia, Tige." Tiger Woods was
probably too focused to distinguish the cries of goodwill in
the din of a rapturous ovation as he walked up the 18th
fairway at Kingston Heath.
But he understood the sentiment and doffed his cap to the sea
of people ringing the 18th green to collect his first
Australian Masters title - as one official put it "a great
scene for Australian golf.".
As well as the thanks from many of the crowd of 25,132, was a
sentiment the Victorian government, for one, would endorse;
"Come back mate, come back," yelled one fan.
The American plays a tournament almost every fortnight, but
only once in Australia in the past 11 years, and promises a
much quicker return next time.
"This has been phenomenal," he said after his two-shot win.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to get back, I promise it won't
be as long." While he expressed a desire to return next year,
his schedule had to be confirmed.
If not next year, he's a near certainty to play in the
President's Cup at Royal Melbourne in 2011.
A self satisfied Victorian premier John Brumby said Woods'
visit to Melbourne has been "sensational" and his $A3 million
($NZ3.83 million) appearance fee would be returned well in
excess of the originally predicted $A19m to the state's
coffers.
Woods said his mother Kultida had played her role in giving
some of his fee back to the economy in her few days in
Melbourne.
If he was unsure as to who organised his fee, Brumby was
there to inspect his investment at close hand as he walked
inside the ropes with Woods and playing partner Cameron Percy
for a few holes on the back nine.
"Good investment Brums, three million well spent," one fan
shouted to Brumby before his mate corrected him with the
government's actual contribution "one and a half, mate".
"You've got my vote, " the first mate continued.
And if Woods was in any doubt over the currency of his
appearance fee, topped up with a mere $A270,000 first prize,
he was greeted with unmistakable Australiana as he walked up
the 13th fairway munching on a sandwich.
"Onya Woodsy," one spectator yelled, conferring an
unimaginative nickname on the world's No 1 golfer.
