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Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:59 pm EDT

You won't believe how Australia is welcoming Tiger Woods

By Jay Busbee

We're used to sports figures making money beyond what we can imagine. We put aside the usual complaints about how one linebacker's salary could pay for a whole school's worth of teachers, or whatever. But every once in awhile, a story breaks through and makes us raise our eyebrows and wonder just how far our priorities have gone out of whack.

This is one of those stories.

Tiger Woods is headed to Australia for the Australian Masters, and he's going to get an unbelievable treatment for the extent of the six or so days that he's in country. First off, he's getting about $3 million for his appearance, which isn't bad coin. From there, the Daily Telegraph provides a complete breakdown of what he'll enjoy while he's there. And we're talking presidential-level luxury for Woods' first visit to Australia since 1997, when he made a relatively paltry $250,000 in appearance fees.

This time around, he'll fly to Australia in a private plane. He'll be chauffeured around the country and kept under the watchful eye of a complete security detail. He'll be the guest of honor at a prestigious dinner whose tickets cost more than $5,000 a seat. And chances are, everybody who's anybody in Australia -- no, I will not make a hack Crocodile Dundee joke here (unless I just did) -- will be angling for some face time with Woods.

It's already a given that Tiger's appearance will be a boon to the Aussie economy, but how much? The tournament has already sold out all four days, and tourney organizers expect Tiger's gallery to be in the neighborhood of a stunning 25,000 people per day.

The whole idea isn't just to make sure Tiger has a good time in 2009, but to bring him back in 2010 and beyond.

I'm not going to get up on some soapbox and rant about how absurd it is that an entire continent is prettying itself up like a homecoming queen hopeful. It's Australia's money, and the Aussies can do with it what they like. I will say this to Australia, though: I'm willing to bring Devil Ball down under for only a tenth of what you're offering Tiger, and I'll go ahead and commit to 2010 too. Call me!

(Visor tip: Local Knowledge)

Tiger to get 'rock star' treatment [Daily Telegraph]

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134 Comments

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  1. Denis R
    1. Posted by Denis R Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:20 pm EDT

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    Worth every penny.
  2. Go Chargers
    2. Posted by Go Chargers Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:36 pm EDT

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    Good article Jay
    Dad always said “Get a lot while your young” I think he was talking money. ((?))
    As long as they want to pay, I say, Take it.
  3. Wayne M
    3. Posted by Wayne M Mon Oct 19, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    Probably a good investment when you take into account the ticket prices, concessions, money being spent in the local economy. I don't know what the tax situation is in Australia, but the government will likely make quite a bit of revenue off of this. By the way, is Allenby playing in Australia again yet?
  4. Matt A
    4. Posted by Matt A Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:15 pm EDT

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    Hope John Daly wins BOTH Australian tournaments! GO JD!
  5. par
    5. Posted by par Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    Hope he gives some to the poor people in Australia.
  6. par
    6. Posted by par Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:36 pm EDT

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    Hope he gives some to the poor people in Australia.
  7. buz man
    7. Posted by buz man Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:46 pm EDT

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    I am a Mickelson fan but if Australia wants to pay Tiger the money...cool........He will probably be worth it ...no ..he is worth it because they are paying it. Good for him.I'm pretty sick of people passing judgement on Tiger. He hasn't stole anything, you never see anything negative about the man. Rack it up ya never know what tommorrow brings.
  8. TopguN
    8. Posted by TopguN Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    For someone like Tiger, 3Mil is well justified.
    For someone like Jay, he should pay us for reading his stupid articles.
  9. mlw831
    9. Posted by mlw831 Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:51 pm EDT

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    7 figure appearance fee, private jet, chauffeur, security detail, guest of honor at a fancy dinner... all pretty lame. I was hoping to read something like the whole country would join hands and spell out his name with candles.
  10. Go Chargers
    10. Posted by Go Chargers Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:34 pm EDT

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    #9
    That happens if he wins the tournament
  11. skidrowdan
    11. Posted by skidrowdan Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:43 pm EDT

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    I need a job.
  12. BB
    12. Posted by BB Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:51 pm EDT

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    $4,000,000 for 6 days = $463 for 1 minute = $2,315 for 5 minutes.
    I spent 5 minutes reading this article / related links.
  13. Kathy
    13. Posted by Kathy Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:57 pm EDT

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    he deserves every dime of it the best of the best
  14. Lamont D
    14. Posted by Lamont D Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:38 pm EDT

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    I'd say he won just by appearing. I need to be 35 years younger starting a new career in Golf.
  15. Kelly M
    15. Posted by Kelly M Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:49 pm EDT

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    They should pair him with John Daly and make him earn that money!!
  16. Kenny
    16. Posted by Kenny Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:59 pm EDT

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    Its a helluva lot of coin. And more if he wins. Id say it is worth it. They have already sold out 100,000 gallery tickets just to watch him play. If a gallery ticket is 50 bucks, then they have already made 5 mill off him. When you factor in even half of those guys getting hotel rooms, rental cars, eating 3 meals a day, plus rediculously expensive bottled water and snacks at the course, the gas the rental cars need, the insurance on the rentals, chair rentals, etc....the economy is going to get an injection of waaaay more than what they are paying him. That entire city thats near is gonna make a killing. Id set a lemonade stand out near the course and charge $2.50 a glass (mostly ice) Id bet I could easily rack up 10 grand profit over the four days. Yeah, Id say it was definately worth it.
  17. Kenny
    17. Posted by Kenny Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:02 pm EDT

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    Thinking about the money he is bringing in total is staggering. Thats at least 50K rented rooms...probably not the cheapies either. Probably 15k rental cars, 400K meals. etc etc. Yeah, they are coming out ok.
  18. Joe L
    18. Posted by Joe L Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:18 pm EDT

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    Mr Busbee,
    Tiger is at least a billion times better golfer than you are a sportswriter.I dont think the Australians could care less what you would do about anything.Your are obviously a liberal journalist.I can tell by your jealous whining about the Australian generousity.We are so privileged to live in a time when we can witness such greatness,its to bad you journalists cant see beyond your pitiful politically correct inaccurate attempts to currupt anything that is great and good.
  19. REDOCTOBER
    19. Posted by REDOCTOBER Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    topgunN,
    well said, I will not spend any ink on the man's jealousy, that is what he is exuding, imagine offering himself like a whore for less money to take his anatomy down under shamefull stuff huh?
  20. REDOCTOBER
    20. Posted by REDOCTOBER Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:28 pm EDT

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    Mr. Joe L,
    That is the buzzman nature, like if he cannot have it let no one else enjoy what he/she has earned, mind you the old fashion way. Nothing has been given to Tiger, that he has not earned, just look at how he nearlyh kisses Leftys a$$$$$, why? 'cause he is white, and let me add I am a fan of his, but more for Tiger, because he is so much better than him that it is not funny. I recall Lefty's rant at Woods, wondering how he could win with inferior equipment, suggesting his was better yet he could not win as many a tourneys as Tiger, with a supposedly superior like equipment. Let me just add, it is not the arrow, it's the indian that launches it.
  21. REDOCTOBER
    21. Posted by REDOCTOBER Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:36 pm EDT

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    i thought I had writtten I was not gonna spene any ink on the buzzman, but there are times that when you stay quiet you are giving testament to the wrongly portrayed. So I felt the need to say my piece. Now I am gone, good night, and have a nice evening.
  22. Lamont D
    22. Posted by Lamont D Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    As a fan of golf, I respect the players and the talent they have, for once it would be nice to have posts without race!
  23. billieboy
    23. Posted by billieboy Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:19 pm EDT

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    Hey ! Tiger ,
    Say you need the $3 million dollar fee ! Okay !
    Why not you split it and give $ 1,500,000 each to the
    Milwaukee Open and Buick (Mich.) Open so that these
    PGA Tour players can play in them next year ! !
  24. d a g u l
    24. Posted by d a g u l Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:37 pm EDT

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    all worth it with el tigre. he shows up and play - to win! plus it helps to have the aussie dollar gain strength against the almighty american dinero.

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