A different era

Peter Stone in the Sydney Morning Herald recounts in Sunday's paper how in 1975 Jack Nicklaus donated the modest appearance fee he received for playing in the Australian Open to the purse give it more heft, bringing the total prize money to $35,000.

The Australian Masters purse this week is $1.5 million, while Woods is receiving a $3 million appearance fee.

"Would Woods do the same as Nicklaus this week?" Stone asks in conclusion. "Dream on."

In fairness to Woods, no one else today would follow the Nicklaus example, either.

-- John Strege