Player, captain, ambassador. Tiger Woods Is Game is in Australia.

One of the first fans to arrive on Monday for the river walk event was David Ku, a local pharmacist who turned up 90 minutes before the planned start with a long-sleeved hoodie in the 90-degree heat. On the front was a modified Masters logo; the outline of the United States, the pin flag of which protrudes where roughly Georgia is, had changed into the shape of a goat. The reverse mentioned the dates of Woods' five wins: 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019.

"The short-sleeved shirts have not arrived yet," Ku said, shrugging.

He also wore a baseball cap with the TW logo and a tiger lid on his hand like a doll. In his other hand he held a vinyl figurine of a miniature Woods.

"This is probably the only chance I will ever see him," said Ku, who explained why his respect for Woods, perhaps the sport & # 39; s best player of all time, had recently become a full fandom.

"He seems to be having more fun," said Ku, who was also touched by Woods embrace of his two children after his Masters victory. in April. "He is just a father who now plays for his children."

By the time the event started, Ku & # 39; s unobstructed view of the stage had already been destroyed by a phalanx of photographers. Ku & # 39; s vantage point was better on Tuesday when he ran the course with the Woods group and managed to set spots just behind the gallery ropes. Despite the cold, drizzling, windy weather, a crowd of several thousand Woods appeared to be watching.

On a par-3 in the front nine, Woods started to turn off the green when a spectator standing behind him shouted: "We love you, Tiger."

Woods stopped what he did. & # 39; I love you too, & # 39; he said. His words began to giggle from his confused fans, whose interest may have been with the international team this week, but whose hearts are clearly somewhere else.