Australian Masters: Tiger Woods enjoys challenge of sandbelt golf course

November 10, 10:29 AMBoston Golf ExaminerEmily Kay

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Tiger Woods hits approach shot during practice round for Australian Masters
(Photo: AP/Andrew Brownbill)

November 10 -- To Tiger Woods, arriving at Australia’s Kingston Heath Golf Club to a rock star’s welcome, playing “sandbelt” courses like Kingston is a treat.

“This is what golf is all about,” Woods told reporters after a practice round Tuesday.

Melbourne’s sandbelt courses are built on sandy soil and feature natural, creative bunkering and  long grasses. Wind and heat are also factors down under.

No grip and rip. Kingston Heath, known for its superb conditioning and considered the 27th best course in the world (according to the course Web site), requires accuracy from tee to green.

“You have to be able to shape the ball around the golf course,” Woods said, “you have to be able to think.:

Learning experience. Woods, who had never played Kingston Heath, spent his practice round trying to figure out  the angles and the best places to leave misses.

“That’s the biggest thing on any golf course you play, is learn where to miss it to give yourself the best angle and best lace to score from,” Woods explained.

Good miss. Woods stressed the importance of good misses and proper targets for certain pin placements. The challenge comes not from hitting the right shots when “you get dialed in,” he said, but from “missing the shots in the correct spots.”

Take a virtual tour of the Kingston Heath Golf Club.

Lofty wedges. The USGA requirement for new V grooves on golf clubs next year continues to be a hot topic. Woods, who has played with V-groove clubs for some time, believes the change may cause some players to try softer golf balls and higher-degree wedges.

“Some of the guys will certainly go to a softer ball to try to get some spin,” Woods said. “Not everybody, but I think what you’re going to see probably more next year is not necessarily a softer ball but...quite a few 64-degree wedges in the bag.

“I think that’s how some of the guys will overcome the lack of spin,” Woods added, “really try to go for more height and probably a bigger, harder swing with more loft.”

What will happen if some of the 100,000 fans expected in Melbourne this week snap photos of Woods on his backswing? Read about how the Australian Masters organizers have banned cell phones and cameras.

Watch Tiger Woods play down under in front of thousands of Australian fans: