Aussie government to pay Tiger Woods

$3million to play in Melbourne Masters

The Australian governament is to pay Tiger Woods' appearance fee of three million dollars to to play in the Australian Masters in November. It will be his first tournament appearance in Australia since 1998.
An Australian government spokesman confirmed premier John Brumby’s comments in a Melbourne newspaper that Woods would play in the November 12 to 15 event at Kingston Heath.
“We are delighted Tiger Woods has chosen to come to Melbourne, further cementing our position as the major events capital of the world,” Brumby told the Herald Sun newspaper. Melbourne also hosts the Australian Open, the first of four majors each year on the international tennis circuit, and the season-opening Formula One Grand Prix.
Premier Brumby predicted the visit by the world’s top golfer would earn Victoria State $12.54 million in economic benefits, which would offset Woods’ $3 million appearance fee.
Woods has recently returned from an eight-month layoff following season-ending knee surgery last year after winning the U.S. Open, his 14th career major.
Stuart Appleby, among the Australians who regularly compete against Woods on the US PGA Tour, said it was a coup for golf Down Under, even in the economic climate.
“It will be great for the game and bring out a lot of people who haven’t seen him before in person, not on a video game,” said Appleby. “There’s a lot of people hurting in Australia, and they might look negatively that one guy is paid $3 million just to turn up. The common man won’t understand the business model because the government is paying for it. They might not see the money he brings in.”
But he predicted huge galleries for Woods at Kingston Heath.
“Tiger has not been down here since the Presidents Cup,” Appleby said. “He’s been to Asia multiple times. He’s been to Europe multiple times. I think it’s good that he’s bringing his game to Australia.”
Woods, who was not immediately available for comment, is very selective about his appearances outside of the United States.It will be Woods’ fourth tournament appearance Down Under and first since the 1998 Presidents Cup, when the U.S. lost to the International team at Royal Melbourne.
+++Tiger Woods announced today he will make his third appearance of the season when he defends his title at next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Woods has won at Bay Hill five times, including last year, when he sank a 24-foot putt on the 72nd hole to beat Bart Bryant by a stroke.