Tuesday, January
8, 2002
Controversy mark
Woods' first visit to New Zealand
By DENNIS PASSA
Associated Press Writer
PARAPARAUMU BEACH, New Zealand (AP) — Tiger Woods' appearance
at the New Zealand Open this week has brought security concerns,
complaints over high ticket prices and angry players.
And that was before the PGA event received a cyanide threat over
the weekend.
“Things like this do happen,” Woods said after finishing
the Mercedes Championships in Hawaii on Sunday with an 8-under-par
65 and heading for New Zealand. “You have to go on living
your life.
“It's unfortunate that people have these types of views and
do these types of acts. I'm going to go down there and enjoy myself
and try to play like I did today.”
But police are taking a serious approach to the threatening letter
that contained a packet of cyanide mailed in December to the U.S.
Embassy. The threat wasn't made against Woods directly, but to
the tournament that begins Thursday.
Jon White, assistant police commissioner in Wellington, said it
was “clear the threats had been made because Woods, the world's
No. 1 golfer, was playing.”
White said the person who sent the threatening letter could face
up to 14 years in jail if caught. “Our inquiries are continuing
and we're very hopeful of making an arrest,” he said.
Woods arrived at Wellington airport, about 30 miles from the Paraparaumu
Beach golf course, in his private plane on Tuesday morning (Monday
night EST), about 45 minutes later than scheduled.
The high-profile nature of Woods' visit here is clear. Television
carried his arrival live around the country, elevating the occasion
to presidential or royal status.
Before he left Hawaii, Woods said he felt confident going to New
Zealand.
“The tournament officials have done a wonderful job of organizing
the event,” he said. “They assured me that everything
is going to be safe.”
Security has been increased and police are asking spectators to
be extra vigilant at the golf course.
Woods said in last May that he'd play in the New Zealand Open
because the Paraparaumu Beach course is near where his caddie,
Steve Williams, grew up.
“I've always wanted to go down to New Zealand, but Stevie
is from there and I just want to go down there and support him,”
Woods said.
When promoters finally secured Woods participation with an appearance
fee said to be $2 million, they announced the inevitable —
an increase in ticket prices so high that two of New Zealand's
top golfers, Michael Campbell and Greg Turner, threatened to boycott.
“The New Zealand Open is for all New Zealanders and they
should not be priced out of going to it,” Campbell said after
hearing that a weekly ticket that cost $20 last year would increase
to $190.
Both he and Turner agreed to play when organizers said they'd
let youths under 16 in for free.
Last week, New Zealand golfer Craig Perks, who is based in the
United States, criticized tournament organizers, saying a mixup
over whether his family could also fly business class with him
to New Zealand nearly forced him to withdraw.
“I think all the emphasis was put on Tiger Woods and they
forgot about everyone else, which is a shame,” Perks said.
Someone also forgot about the fickle Wellington weather, which
has been cool and rainy in the two months leading up to the tournament.
Although advance ticket sales picked up at Christmas, organizers
don't expect them to be in the projected range of 18,000 to 20,000.
Woods' itinerary in New Zealand includes a practice round Tuesday,
a pro-am Wednesday, early tee-off in the first round Thursday
and a special clinic for invited guests on Thursday afternoon.
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