Tiger Woods at Australian Masters: Aussies ban cameras and cell phones

November 9, 8:37 AMBoston Golf ExaminerEmily Kay

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Tiger Woods contemplates a bunker shot at World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions tourney
(Photo: AP/Andy Wong)

November 9 -- Hoping to avoid the camera-happy crowds that so bugged Tiger woods last week in China, organizers of this week’s Australian Masters have banned cameras and cell phone on the golf course.

• Tiger Woods had a bad week. Check out photos of his play during the WGC-HSBC Champions event in China
  
  

Following his collapse from contention and the myriad of distractions from the oversized galleries that really seemed to rankle him at last week’s World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions event, Woods arrived in Melbourne Monday. His play in the Australian Masters will be Woods’ first appearance in Australia in 11 years. The world’s top-ranked golfer will add to his coffers with a $3 million appearance fee at the Kingston Heath Golf Club, according to the the U.K.'s Telegraph.

Tiger-mania. Full-throttled Tiger-mania has overtaken the event, which has sold out all 25,000 tickets and which could lead to galleries of 15 deep -- hardly unusual for a Tiger Woods tourney.

The organizers have enhanced security so that Woods can play without having to suffer “inconsiderate spectators,” which, the Telegraph says, “marred” the WGC-HSBC Champions tourney in Shanghai.

Tiger temper. The paper points to an incident on the seventh hole during Sunday's final round at the Sheshan International Golf Club. When a photog took a shot as Woods was teeing off, the world's top-ranked golfer snapped, “I just can’t get a swing,” and swore under his breath, the paper says.

So, what else is new?

Golfers are notably fussy. As the adage goes, the flutter of butterfly wings in a nearby meadow can completely fluster any weekend hacker, let alone the pros who are playing for big bucks.

One might believe, however, that, since the 33-year-old Woods has been in the spotlight for some 30 years, he would be able to suffer with a bit more patience the shutterbugs who seem to pop up  everywhere just as he’s taking his backswing. After all, many of those camera-clickers helped make Woods the gazillionaire he is today.

Aussie dead zone. Nevertheless, the camera-happy fans in China really got under his skin and the Aussie sponsors want none of that bad press. They have gone so far as to post warnings on the event’s official Web site that fans will be prohibited from bringing cameras and mobile devices to the course.

With what seems a gratuitous dig at Chinese fans, tourney director Marcus Gale tells the Telegraph he won’t tolerate what occurred in Shanghai. "We're certainly not China,” Gale says. “We'll have an educated crowd as far as golf goes for the main part."

Wow, buddy. Way to support international golf without offending anyone.

Oh, and, good luck with that no-camera policy. Can’t wait to see who goes more ballistic when that first Nikon clicks on a Tiger tees shot -- Woods or the pompous Mr. Gale.

No eskies. FYI -- in addition to the usual cell phones, video gear, and cameras, the Aussie tourney will also ban such easily smuggled items as stepladders, milk crates, explosive devices, and “large eskies” (that’s Aussie for cooler, mate).

As for mobile phones, the event won’t permit them on the course. But should you somehow sneak one by the elite security guards, event organizers request that you “please ensure your phone is switched to silent.”

Should be a fun week.

While he’s down under, will Tiger Woods check out the world’s largest golf course? Read about the recent opening of the 850-mile Nullarbor Links along Australia's Eyre Highway.