Woods Down Under: Not everyone is thrilled

Australian Peter Thomson, winner of five British Opens, is among those who aren't especially happy that Tiger Woods has chosen to play in the Australian Masters and that he will receive a $3 million fee to do so.

Thomson told the Independent: "In my view it's going to do a lot of damage to our national Open which comes two weeks after this one in Melbourne. The Australian Open is our national championship, it is the most important event that we have. He won't be playing in that but that [Masters appearance] sucks up all the potential sponsorship."

Then there's this headline in the Herald Sun: Tiger lured to Melbourne by golf course, says agent.

This begs the question: If the course was the lure, why was an appearance fee necessary?

-- John Strege