Tiger mania Down Under cooling?

Last year, Tiger Woods' first appearance in Australia since the 1998 Presidents Cup was so eagerly anticipated that 25,000 tickets for each of the four days of the Australian Masters sold out quickly.

Response for his return engagement this November, meanwhile, has been tepid, according to Peter Stone, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald:

"Tickets for the Australian Masters featuring Tiger Woods, Geoff Ogilvy, Camilo Villegas and Sergio Garcia went on sale several weeks ago and while tournament organisers insist sales are healthy, they are nowhere near the level they were at the same stage last year when Woods was returning Down Under for the first time since the 1998 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

"Last year was novel with the world No.1's return to our shores, but this year there will be a turn-off factor," Stone wrote, citing Woods' off-course issues as well as his diminished performance on course.

-- John Strege