Tiger Woods brought the Australian Masters to a standstill with traffic jams, road closures and long lines as he made a memorable first Australian tournament appearance in 11 years Thursday.
The 14-time major winner fired seven birdies and just one bogey as he opened his Australian Masters challenge with a six-under 66 at Kingston Heath.
Woods was in a three-way share of the lead with young South African Branden Grace and Australian James Nitties.
Spectators climbed into trees to get a glimpse of Woods as thousands clamored to watch his every move. Parking lots were full soon after sunrise, and all spectator vantage spots were snapped up as the world No. 1 teed off early in his opening round.
Even Woods said he was caught up in a traffic jam from Melbourne to the outlying course, but the all-time golfing great was highly complimentary of the reception he received.
“The crowd was great today,” Woods said. “The people were obviously excited about the pairing and they were extremely respectful, and they were actually policing themselves, which is great as we don’t get that too often.
“The galleries are very knowledgeable, and they were trying to help us out with other people who were taking pictures.”
On the 13th green, some spectators climbed into the low branches of trees in a bid to get a better view of the 14-time major winner as he made his way up the fairway.
The crowds were largely orderly and respectful while Woods played his shots with a phalanx of fans’ mobile phone cameras capturing his every move.
This was despite an edict from organizers that no cameras or mobile phones would be allowed on to the course in case they distracted the golfers, primarily Woods.
They were trying to ensure there was no repeat of crowd incidents that angered Woods during last week’s WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.
Woods was incensed when a camera clicked as he was teeing off at the seventh fairway and his shot found a bunker in last Sunday’s final round.
Woods is chasing his 93rd tournament title.
