Tiger Woods: From golf champion to restaurateur
By BRUCE SMITH Associated Press Writer
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - Fresh from his record-breaking Masters
victory, Tiger Woods hit the promotional circuit Monday. He cut
the ribbon at his new restaurant, then headed up the coast for
an encore in Atlantic City.
Woods threw golf balls, T-shirts and hats into the crowd of
about 500 people who met him in Myrtle Beach, about 200 miles
from where he made history Sunday at Augusta National.
"I'm still on could nine from yesterday," he said.
"My (green) jacket? I slept with it last night."
The 21-year-old Woods is the youngest Masters champion. His
270 total broke the tournament record by a stroke. His 12-stroke
margin over second place Tom Kite also was a record.
He was about a half-hour late to open the Official All Star
Cafe, a theme restaurant he owns with other sports celebrities.
He was to open another All Star Cafe Monday night at the Trump
Taj Mahal Casino Resort in New Jersey.
From time to time fans in the crowd broke into chants of "Tiger!
Tiger!" as they waited outside the Myrtle Beach restaurant
with its giant black-and-white star and two gold torches above
its entrance.
A sign taped across the top of the door proclaimed "Congratulations
Tiger Woods." Just across the street are Planet Hollywood
and the Hard Rock Cafe.
A dozen or so cars stopped along busy U.S. 17 nearby and fans
got out to watch from their roofs.
"It's exciting to open my own place here in Myrtle Beach,
which is probably the golf capital of the world," Woods said.
In Atlantic City, people began lining up on the Boardwalk early
in the afternoon in hopes of catching a glimpse of Woods, who
was to join actress Whoopi Goldberg, tennis great Monica Seles,
former tennis bad boy John McEnroe and former heavyweight champion
Riddick Bowe for the evening ceremonies.
"He's an inspiration to the young black kids. They need
that," said black construction worker Cliff Flowers, 46,
of Atlantic City.
In Myrtle Beach, Mayor Bob Grissom presented Woods with a key
to the city.
"You understand that won't unlock the vault, you won that
yesterday," Grissom said.
"When I knew I had won the tournament is when I hugged
my mom and pop," Woods said.
The Official All Star Cafe, a division of Planet Hollywood
Inc., has video displays at which customers can see great plays
in sports history. It includes the Tiger Woods Clubhouse, with
trophies and other golf memorabilia.
A signed scorecard and an autographed program from his Masters
victory will be included.
Woods became a partner in the restaurant chain in December.
Other owners include Andre Agassi, Wayne Gretzky, Ken Griffey
Jr., Joe Montana, Shaquille O'Neal and Seles.
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