Tiger Going Down Under

Recently the Australia Golf Tour announced that Tiger Woods would be playing in the 2009 Australian Masters this November. That appears to be great news for Australian golf. The U.S. PGA tour is finishing its’ Fall Series at that time and Woods rarely plays in any of those events. It is a bit of a coup that the Masters was able to land Woods. He will be paid a 3 million dollar appearance fee to make the trip down under. Half of that fee will be paid with taxpayer’s money and that is causing some controversy. Many Australians are questioning why public money is being used to pay Woods in this time of world wide financial hardship.

There are estimates that Tiger’s presence at the tournament could mean 15-20 million dollars in revenue. Victoria State Premier John Brumby says that 10,000-20,000 overseas tourists would travel to Melbourne and bring their wallets with them. That has to be great news for the local economies. The cries that taxpayer’s money should not be used for a pro golfers’ appearance fee are misplaced. Eddie McGuire is the Director of the Victorian Major Event Company an organization that tries to keep the economy and tourism in Victoria vibrant and improving. According to McGuire, the money has already been budgeted and allocated to his organization. That money would be spent on some activity that attempts to increase tourism or bring in more money to Victoria anyway. He thinks that there could be no better use of those funds.

Having Woods at the Australian Masters is great for Australian golf and great for Australia. There are not many people that draw the attention of Tiger Woods. He brings plenty of followers with him and the money follows. Every golf tournament in the world wishes they could have Woods in their field. He raises gate receipts, sends television ratings off the chart and puts the hosting city on the front page for the week he is there.

Certainly, there was much closed door negotiations that convinced Woods to play. IMG is the company that owns the Australian Masters. It also represents Woods. The course was changed to Kinston Heath, supposedly a layout more preferred by Woods.

Whatever transpired to get Woods to play will be well worth it. The Australian Masters will now be getting the most famous athlete in the world and all the publicity that comes with him.

With the 2011 Presidents Cup being held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club and Woods surely to be on the U.S. team, Australia will be getting a huge boost from the “Tiger effect” over the next few years. This is just what golf in Australia needs; the best player in the world making a yearly trip there. Where Tiger Woods goes, dollars follow.