Woods bemused by warm Australian reception

MELBOURNE: Thousands of fans and a media circus worthy of a head of state greeted Tiger Woods at Melbourne's Kingston Heath golf club yesterday, as the world No 1 made his first visit to Australia in 11 years.

Woods, who arrived by private jet in Melbourne on Monday, tuned up for this week's A$1.5 million ($1.40 million) Masters with a nine-hole practise round in front of throngs of spectators and a low-flying helicopter scanning his every move.

"No, (this reception) is not normal. No, I pray to God it's not normal," the 14-time major champion said.