/ 16 November 2009

Woods masterclass leaves Aussies wanting more

Australian sports fans were still buzzing on Monday and pining for more of Tiger Woods after the world’s best golfer’s masterclass performance to win the Australian Masters at Kingston Heath.

The 14-time major winner left the door open for a possible return next year to defend his Masters title after a week of unprecedented scenes for Australian golf.

The Masters moves to the nearby Victoria Golf Club next year and tournament officials along with the Victorian state government are likely to try and entice him back again after paying a reported $3-million fee for this year’s appearance.

Press reports on Monday speculated that the rich World Golf Championship tournament in Shanghai next November may help get Woods back to Melbourne to play in the Masters again.

Woods drew a huge roar from the crowd around the 18th green at Sunday’s Masters title presentation when he was asked if he would return to defend the title.

”I would love to,” he said, while apologising for taking so long — 11 years — to come back to Australia.

”I’ve had a great time … this has been phenomenal,” Woods said. ”I’m sorry it took me so long to get back, I promise it won’t be as long [next time].”

Woods said he would decide on his 2010 playing schedule after his last tournament of the year at the Chevron World Challenge at Thousand Oaks, California, from December 3-6.

”I haven’t looked at next year’s tournament schedule yet, I will do that after the Chevron and get an idea of what I need to do for the entire year,” he said.

In any event Woods, 33, is expected to come to Royal Melbourne with the American team for the 2011 President’s Cup.

IMG, the Australian Masters’ owner, has an agreement with the Victorian state government to have three of the top 25 players in the world in the event’s field, with press reports saying a player like American world number two Phil Mickelson could also be a target.

Woods claimed victory in the European Tour co-sanctioned tournament with a closing round of four-under 68 to finish the 72 holes at 14-under 274.

He beat Australian Greg Chalmers by two shots with Frenchman Francois Delamontagne and American Jason Dufner another two shots away in joint third.

The Australian Masters was a spectacular success with a total of 95,000 fans over the four days and a huge economic fillip for the sports-obsessed city.

Victorian Premier John Brumby told reporters the returns would far outweigh the outlays, adding that his government’s estimated economic benefits of $17,7-million had been conservative.

City hotels reported full occupancy throughout the tournament and television ratings were well above what they had been in the previous years.

Another big attraction in luring Woods back Down Under is the reputation of Melbourne’s famed sandbelt golf courses.

‘All the guys have raved about this golf course, and I understand why,” he said. ”I really enjoy all the sandbelt courses, because it brings back shot-making and it’s something that we don’t see enough of in the United States.”

The victory also replicated the success of compatriots Gene Littler and Mark O’Meara at the Australian Masters and also meant Woods had savoured success on five of the six continents, something he clearly relshed.

”I have never won down here, so now I have won on every continent, which is nice,” Woods said before correcting himself.

”Except for Antarctica. To have won on every playable continent is something I have always wanted to do and now I have done that.” — AFP

 

AFP