Armed police officers accompanied world number one Tiger Woods today as he shot a six-under 65 in the pro-am on the eve of the New Zealand Open.
Guards have also been placed on roads and bridges leading to the links course in Paraparaumu north of the New Zealand capital after a letter threatening to disrupt the event and containing cyanide was sent to the U.S. embassy.
Tournament organiser David Pool said security had already been increased since the September 11th attacks on the United States.
"Since September 11th, obviously we sat down with police and reviewed our security requirements so we'd already beefed them up quite substantially," Pool told reporters.
"The latest threat has obviously caused us to review them yet again and the police are taking the appropriate measures to make it a safe environment for people to come out and watch the golf."
Pelting rain interrupted the pro-am and further showers and northerly winds are forecast for Thursday. Woods will tee off with defending champion David Smail of New Zealand and 1995 winner Peter O'Malley of Australia.