With events from the climax of Sunday's American Express Championship still affronting his ego, Tiger Woods did a bit of prowling in a sharply contrasting environment yesterday. About 5,000 spectators came to Hyde Park in London to see him hit golf shots.
"I hope this green's better than the 17th at Valderrama," he remarked, smiling, while surveying the 177-yard hole specially constructed for his supreme shot-making skills. During an hour-long exhibition, the world number one almost hit cameramen and bounced balls off speakers into the crowd.
Nicole Appleton from the all-girl group All Saints, joined Woods on stage by the Serpentine, while five-handicap golfer, Gary Lineker, was compere. For his finale the world number one played "keepy-uppy" with a club and ball, hitting the ball with the iron between his legs and behind his back, and not once losing control.
Those who watched him perform similar exploits in a television commercial, knew what to expect. But he failed in a hurling-style attempt at smashing an airborne ball - even after 12 attempts. "So basically, I'm a has-been," he remarked self-depracatingly.
A reward of $157,500 for a share of fifth place with Padraig Harrington, Nick Price and Sergio Garcia on Sunday was decidedly modest by his standards. In the event, it meant that Woods ended the official US Tour season with prize money of $9,188,321 from 20 tournaments - some way short of his target figure of $10 million.
He remains convinced that the infamous 17th at Valderrama is something of a dog's dinner, unfit for golfing humans, especially of his standard. And he is wrong. It may not be a classic, but its severely sloping green, 19 yards from front to back, was eminently playable as far as the vast majority of the field was concerned.
Despite all the disasters there by the leading players, it still ranked only 12th in difficulty for the fourth round. And over the four days, it emerged as high as 15th in difficulty. Only the long 11th, fourth and seventh were easier, in that order.
It is interesting that only two players from the field of 54, managed to birdie the 17th on each of the four days. One of them was Ireland's Paul McGinley and the other was twice-US Masters champion, Jose-Maria Olazabal, who knows a thing or two about controlling approach shots into dangerously slick greens, from his experience at Augusta National.
Woods's problem was that he insisted on trying to overpower the hole, playing it like a par four. In this context it is revealing that when Lee Westwood desperately needed to hold it with a nine-iron fourth shot of 160 yards on Sunday, he did so with ease, despite the problem of hitting from the left rough.
Next assignment for the world number one is the Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok, which actually starts the 2001 European Tour season, on Thursday. And it will be a very special occasion for the little-known, 24-year-old Australian, Scott Gardner.
Supported by the National Aboriginal Sports Commission's "Hunt for the Australian Tiger" programme, Gardiner has been inspired by the success of Woods. And he will play in the same field as his hero, on a sponsor's invitation.
The Australian Tiger initiative was designed to promote golf in the Aboriginal community and unearth a naturally gifted player. "I can't believe it," said Gardiner who, as an amateur, finished 11th in last year's Australian Open and eighth in the Greg Norman Holden International. This week's event marks his professional debut.
"I tried to pick the best players for practice rounds in those events, because you can learn so much from just a few hours with them," he went on. "I plan to ask about getting a practice round with Tiger. You never know. . ."
Meanwhile, before leaving London, Woods admitted that his victory at the home of golf, St Andrews, in July was the highlight of his year. "I enjoy competing and winning," he said. "It's a lot of fun to go out there against the best players. I've had some wonderful battles with all the champions. We all have dreams, the hard part is making them a reality."
