Tiger Woods draws huge crowd to course angling
for PGA event
FARMINGTON, Pa. (AP) - Tiger Woods was so popular at the third
annual Mystic Rock Charity Pro-Am that tournament officials had
to curtail autograph requests so that the young golf star could
tee off.
"People have to realize that I'm only 21 and I'm only
human and that sometimes I need my quiet time out on the course,"
Woods said. "Just like I have to realize that when I'm out
in public, I'm in the public eye."
Woods shot a 7-under-par 65 to win Monday's event. No prize
money is involved, but the professionals were paid appearance
fees and their expenses were covered.
Woods edged out Michael Bradley and PGA Senior Tour player
Jim Thorpe, both of whom shot 66s.
John Daly, who will return to the PGA Tour later this week
at The Memorial, admitted to being rusty and shot a 73.
"It was fun," Woods said. "It amazes me that
in a one-day event, this many people would come out and watch.
I think it goes to show you that this part of the United States
needs a PGA Tour event. People are kind of starving for a tour
event here."
Nearly 30,000 paid $15 apiece to attend the event.
Joe Hardy, the multimillionaire founder of a chain of lumber
yards, spent more than $20 million to develop Nemacolin Woodlands
Resort, including the championship course designed by Pete Dye.
Now 74 and having given his daughter daily responsibility for
the 84 Lumber chain he founded, Hardy is spending millions more
to attract stars like Woods in hopes of showing the course can
handle a PGA tournament.
Woods, whose winning streak ended at two straight when he finished
fourth at The Colonial on Sunday, said that when he turned pro
last August, he wasn't going to play in these types of events.
But the big paycheck - Woods reportedly received over $1 million
to play in the event for three years - and a chance to combat
leukemia convinced him to come after he had turned down several
other offers.
"Going back to when I was a child, I used to go down to
a children's hospital and speak to cancer patients as well as
abused kids," Woods said. "It's something I liked to
do, love to do. Anytime I can give something back, I'm more than
happy to."
Woods will return to southwestern Pennsylvania for another
benefit, a skins game in August for Arnold Palmer that benefits
a long-time Palmer charity, the Westmoreland County hospital.
Woods will join a foursome that includes Tom Lehman and Davis
Love III for the match on Aug. 25 at Laurel Valley Golf Club in
Ligonier.
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