Organizers of the Australian Masters have banned spectators from bringing cameras and mobile phones to prevent a repeat of the crowd distractions that infuriated Tiger Woods in Shanghai last week.
World No. 1 Woods flew into Melbourne yesterday ahead of his first appearance in Australia for 11 years and tournament officials were leaving nothing to chance with the most eagerly awaited golfing event in Australia for years.
Woods, 33, who is reportedly being paid US$3 million to play in this week’s European Tour co-sanctioned event, will attract massive public galleries at the Kingston Heath sandbelt course.
All 25,000 tickets for each of the four days of the tournament were sold out early last month, with reports that officials are expecting crowds of up to 15 deep behind the ropes following Woods.
The huge crowds expected each day are proving to be a logistical nightmare for organizers, who have beefed up security for Woods. They have also moved to ensure there is no repeat of incidents involving inconsiderate spectators that marred at last week’s WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.
Woods was incensed when a camera clicked as he was teeing off at the seventh fairway and his shot found a bunker in Sunday’s final round.
GROWLING TIGER
He shouted “I just can’t get a swing!” and began swearing under his breath.
Nothing went right for the American superstar as he began the final round in joint second place, two shots behind eventual winner Phil Mickelson. Woods faded to finish five strokes adrift after a round of 72.
The presence of a sell-out crowd and many first-time golf watchers at Kingston Heath has made organizers nervous and they have advertised on the tournament’s Web site that spectators will not be allowed to bring cameras or mobile phones on to the course.
Marcus Gale, IMG’s tournament director for the Masters, said there were concerns about the crowd as they tried to get a glimpse of Woods in action.
“We are worried a little bit,” Gale told ABC radio. “Tiger hasn’t been here since the 1998 Presidents Cup and what he’s done between now and then is unprecedented.”
“I think he’s won 13 of his 14 majors in that time. People are going to be keen to see him,” he said. “We’ve briefed our security. We’ve briefed our volunteers and we encourage people to respect the integrity of the play, which is obviously paramount to the success of the tournament.”
‘WE’RE NOT CHINA’
Gale said he nevertheless did not expect the same crowd problems experienced in Shanghai.
“We’re certainly not China. We’ll have an educated crowd as far as golf goes for the main part, but it’s something we’ll look to manage as best we can,” he said.
Woods has played in Australia on only three occasions, most recently when he was part of the US team that lost the 1998 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.
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