Nelson Classic sells out
By RON SIRAK / AP Golf Writer
IRVING, Texas (AP) - The sign in front of the Four Seasons
TPC Los Colinas said it all: SOLD OUT. Tiger Woods is playing
this week in the GTE Byron Nelson Classic and the result was predictable.
More than 350 media credentials were issued to an event that
normally gets several dozen requests and a record 150,000 spectator
badges were sold for the week, prompting urgent warnings to fans
to get to the course early.
Woods' news conference Tuesday afternoon looked more like U.S.
Open week that just another tour stop. And Tuesday night, Woods
threw out the first pitch at the game between the Texas Rangers
and Cleveland Indians.
Even Woods' agent, Hughes Norton of International Management
Group, was holding court for a media suffering from four weeks
of Tiger withdrawal.
Asked if Woods was a factor on the lucrative new TV contract
the PGA Tour signed over the weekend, Norton said: "Look
at the ratings. There is no doubt about it."
Norton said Woods has turned down about 100 endorsement offers
since turning pro.
"There is plenty for Tiger in all this stuff," the
agent said with the kind of smile that comes from a getting a
percentage of the hottest athlete in the world.
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