Tiger Woods flies in Australia
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U.S. golfer Tiger Woods on Tuesday arrived in Melbourne to defend his Australian Masters title.
The U.S. 14-time major winner's private jet touched down at Essendon Airport on Tuesday morning.
“The superstar and world number two looked relaxed as he exited the plane in red shorts, a black top, black cap and dark sunglasses after flying in from Thailand where he played in a charity event,” ABC Sports reported on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old is expected to rest at Crown Towers on Tuesday afternoon, before speaking with other international players at a dinner at Crown Palladium on Tuesday night.
Woods was grouped with Australia's Robert Allenby and Brett Rumford for the first two rounds, with the trio to tee off about 7.30am (AEDT) in Thursday's first round of tournament, and shortly after 12.30pm (AEDT) on Friday.
Woods returned to Australia a year after his career and personal life began to spiral out of control.
Last year's Australian Masters was the last tournament Woods won, before his mistress Rachel Uchitel was photographed in Australia, and a sex scandal broke that ended his marriage.
Woods' three million U.S. dollars appearance fee is partly funded by the state Victorian government of Australia, and partly by taxpayers in Victoria.
The state government said the benefits to Victoria from Wood's visit in terms of tourism and viewers far outweigh the taxpayer contribution.
But Greens Member of Parliament (MP) Greg Barber said Tiger was not worth it when there was a need for public transport, hospitals and schools funding.
According to Australia Associated Press, unlike last year's Masters at Kingston Heath, when his first tournament in Australia in more than a decade resulted in massive public interest, with tickets for all four days selling out six weeks in advance, this time the Australian Masters' tickets were still be available at the gate.
The Australian Masters tournament is scheduled to begin on Thursday morning.
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