Tiger Woods faces sandbelt crash course

Tiger Woods says the unique nature of Melbourne's sandbelt courses means he faces a
steep learning curve if he is to justify his hot favouritism for this week's
Australian Masters at Kingston Heath.
On his first visit to Australia for 11 years, Woods started his crash course with a
nine-hole practice round on Tuesday, Australian veteran Craig Parry acting both as
playing partner and tutor.
He will again be partnered with three-time winner Parry in the opening two rounds,
along with defending champion Rod Pampling, the trio scheduled to begin the
tournament at the 10th tee at 7.30am (AEDT) Thursday.
The 14-time major winner and world No.1 said Parry provided some valuable tips, most
importantly pointing out the course's biggest trouble spots.
"It's certainly an adjustment, because I haven't played here, I have to try to learn
the angles, try to learn the greens and where to miss the golf ball," Woods said.
"That's the biggest thing on any golf course you play, to learn where to miss it to
give yourself the best angle and best place to score from.
"Learning that over today and tomorrow will certainly be key."
With hot weather forecast throughout the tournament, errant shots could become even
more costly as the greens firm up.
With the wind also tipped to pick up on Saturday, Woods said the challenge for a
player such as himself unfamiliar with the conditions, compared to the large
Australian contingent who can call on local knowledge, could become more pronounced.
"A lot of the guys that have played here haven't played here with no wind," he said.
"If the forecast holds up, it will be interesting on the weekend when the wind blows."
Woods said it was a "treat" to play on a course that forced a golfer to plot their
way through challenges, rather than relying on length.
While the narrow, tree-lined fairways are a notable feature, along with potentially
faster greens than the American is accustomed to, Woods said it was the bunkers that
set the course apart.
"You would never get a chance to see bunkering like this any other place in the
world," he said.
"I just love coming down here and playing these golf courses, it's a treat.
"You don't need a golf course to be 7,500 yards to be hard, you can build it just
like this and have it nice and tricky."
The Masters will be Woods' first event in Australia since the 1998 Presidents Cup at
Royal Melbourne.
TAB Sportsbet had Woods listed on Tuesday as a $2.50 favourite, with Ogilvy a
distant second at $10.00.
The Masters is also co-sanctioned by the European Tour, but that tour's top players
have preferred a rival tournament in Hong Kong.