The size of the gallery Tuesday at Kingston Heath was nothing new for Tiger Woods, who also played before some 7,000 people two days ago in China. That was the final round of a World Golf Championship. This was merely a practice round for the Australia Masters, and it showed just what kind of buzz Woods has generated in his return to Australia for the first time in 11 years. Perhaps even more peculiar than TV network helicopters circling overhead as Woods played nine holes with Craig Parry was the sign posted at the ticket office: "Sold Out." Australia sporting events, particularly golf, thrive on walk-up sales, and no one could remember the last time a tournament had no tickets available. Just another day in the life of the world's No. 1 player? Not quite. "No, it's not normal," Woods said at his press conference, which was broadcast live around Australia. "Thank God it's not normal." Woods is looking for a different result than from this weekend in Shanghai, when he started the final round only two shots behind Phil Mickelson and quickly fell out of contention, finishing in a tie for sixth as Mickelson won the HSBC Champions. Woods is making his fourth appearance in Australia, which he described as one of his favorite spots in the world for golf, particularly the sandbelt courses around Melbourne. He tied for fifth in the 1996 Australian Open at the end of his rookie season, then tied for eighth in Australian Masters early in 1997. His last appearance was the Presidents Cup in 1998, when the International team gave the Americans their only loss. Woods played Australian icon Greg Norman, beating him in singles at Royal Melbourne. Continued... |