Since Tiger Woods accepted a $3 million offer to play at the JBWere Masters in Melbourne,the Australians fans and the medias have gone in a frenzy at the prospect to see the world No1 for the first time since 1998.

When Tiger’s private jet landed in Australia a huge crowd was waiting and an all-sports local radio station broadcasted the event live.Three TV helicopters tracked Tiger’s limo on the 12 ½-mile trip to his hotel.

When Woods held his first press conference after playing nine holes at Kingston Heath golf course,the tournament’s host TV network extended its midday news bulletin to televise the interview live.

Until this week no Australian golf tournament had ever posted the “sold-out”sign,but the 100,000 tickets went so fast that tournament owner IMG decided to sell Tuesday’s practice and Wednesday’s pro-am too.Those daily quota were sold out a month ago,so great was the fans’desire to catch a glimpse of the greatest golfer of the planet as he worked his strategy with caddie Steve Williams.

The $3 million investment looks pretty good as the Australians needed a boost for the declining popularity of their main golf events.

Tiger finished 8th when he played the JBWere Masters in 1997,and was back in Australia in 1998 for The Presidents Cup at nearly Royal Melbourne.

“We haven’t seen him in Australia for 11 years.People should be excited.”said Adam Scott.

Tiger is getting twice the winner’s prize in appearence money,but defending champion Rod Pampling,who is paired with Tiger on the first two rounds,accepted with grace that he will play a supporting role this week.

“Obviously,I knew Tiger was coming down and I had a joke with him at the start of the year”Pampling said “It took me ten years to win back in Australia and now I’m not going to get any press because you’re playing.” And “It’s what Australian golf needed.”