Wednesday, August 16, 2000
Tigermania hits Valhalla Golf
Club
By Mike Fields
Knight Ridder Newspapers
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Tigermania finally
hit Valhalla Golf Club on Tuesday when the world's most celebrated
sports figure made his first appearance at the 82nd PGA Championship.
Tiger Woods, who came to town unannounced
last week and played a relatively secret round at Valhalla, was
on public display Tuesday as he got in nine holes of practice.
Thousands of fans, many of them armed with cameras and seeking
autographs, followed his every swing.
Woods, accompanied by his teacher, Butch
Harmon, and playing partner Mark O'Meara, appeared relaxed and
loose. His interaction with the crowd, however, was limited. He
was generous with waves and smiles, but he signed only a few autographs
while he played.
Later in the day he took part in a clinic
conducted by past PGA champions.
The fans weren't shy about expressing their
support for Tiger. They were loud and boisterous at times, but
mostly well behaved.
“One girl ran out of the ropes a little
bit, but they rounded her up real quick,” said Jefferson
County policeman Joe Schutte, who along with officer Chris Starks,
walked with Tiger as his security detail.
Woods will play another practice round today
before the tournament begins on Thursday.
As big as the crowds have been and will
be for Woods during practice, they figure to swell when he is
paired with Jack Nicklaus and Vijay Singh for the first two rounds.
Woods said he was surprised to learn that
he and Nicklaus, the man whose major championship records he is
chasing, were grouped together.
“It was a pleasant surprise,”
he said. “Jack is obviously the greatest champion of all
time, and it's neat to be playing with him in possibly his last
PGA Championship. With that prospect, it's going to be quite an
honor and a lot of fun to play with him.”
Nicklaus won 18 majors on the PGA Tour,
including each of the Grand Slam tournaments (Masters, U.S. Open,
British Open and PGA) at least three times each.
Woods' victory in the British Open last
month completed his first Grand Slam.
(c) 2000, Lexington Herald-Leader
(Lexington, Ky.).
Visit Kentucky Connect, the World Wide Web site of the Herald-Leader,
at http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
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