Monday, January 7, 2002

[MERCEDES CHAMPIONSHIPS]

ASSOCIATED PRESS Tiger Woods watches his drive off the third tee during the final round of the Mercedes Championships yesterday.

Poison note can’t
tame Tiger

---

By Paul Arnett
parnett@starbulletin.com

KAPALUA, Maui >> A letter sent to the U.S. Embassy in New Zealand on Saturday with a small amount of cyanide is related to Tiger Woods' appearance at the New Zealand Open this week, but it won't keep Woods from making the trip Down Under.

Woods said after yesterday's final round at the Mercedes Open that he and caddie Steve Williams, who is from New Zealand, are looking forward to the trip. Woods left for New Zealand last night.

His agent, David Steinberg, was assured by New Zealand police, as well as the FBI, that security at the international event is tight and that every measure has been taken to make sure Woods' safety is well in hand. Woods is reportedly receiving an appearance fee of $2 million.

"We wouldn't go there, otherwise," Steinberg said. "But everyone has assured us things will be fine. Tiger and Stevie are really looking forward to the trip."

ASSOCIATED PRESS Tiger Woods hits from the fairway down to the first green of Kapalua's Plantation Course.

When asked if he had heard of the threat, Woods said, "Oh, yeah, definitely. I know the tournament officials have done a wonderful job of organizing the event. They've assured me I'm going to be safe and to do the best they can for not only myself, but the rest of the players and all the people coming out to the tournament.

"Things like this do happen. You know, you have to go on living your life. It's unfortunate that people have these type of views and do these type of acts. You know, I'm going to go down there, enjoy myself, try and play like I did today."

Woods shot a final-round 65 yesterday to finish at 11-under for the tournament. He had hoped to place in the top 10, and did. He finished tied for 10th with Bob Estes.

"I was trying to get to double digits," Woods said. "I figured that's where I would need to be to finish top 10."

As for winning the tournament?

"If I birdied every hole on the back nine," Woods said, then smiled. "Maybe thrown in an eagle or two here and there."

Despite the threat and the possible distractions that go with it, Woods won't let it ruin the trip for Williams. He said he was used to the security because threats generally follow him wherever he goes.

"I've had my fair share," Woods said. "It's going to be an interesting week as it is with Stevie down there in his hometown. That's where he grew up playing. Everyone's got the buzz about it. I think just that in itself is going to make it a lot of fun."

Woods had fun yesterday with a great 8-under round that was equaled by defending Mercedes Open champion Jim Furyk and bettered only by Sergio Garcia's blistering 9-under 64. Woods said the wind dying down was the key.

"I finally made a few putts today," Woods said. "Granted, I wasn't blown all over the place today, either. It was nice to stay steady on some putts and release them, know the fact that I wasn't going to be blown over.

"Today, I hit the ball as well as I have all week, really. I finally made some putts, got it going, got the momentum on my side. From there, I just tried to keep it going. I was able to do that."

Even though Woods didn't win (consecutive 74s in the second and third rounds did him in) he is happy with the way he played this week.

"This was a very good start," Woods said. "I'm pleased with the things I've been working on. It's just unfortunate for me that I didn't putt that well the last two days with the wind howling. I struggled a little bit, but I hit the ball pretty well.

"I only made a couple of bad swings here and there, but those bad swings, I made double and triple bogeys. Other than that, I felt like I swung the club well in the wind; just didn't make enough putts."