Golf: Thousands turn out to watch Tiger practice

Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the 18th hole during a practice round at Kingston Heath in Melbourne. Photo / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - The world's best golfer, Tiger Woods, has attracted thousands of fans to watch him practice at Melbourne's Kingston Heath for the first time ahead of this week's Australian Masters.

Playing a practice round with Australian veteran Craig Parry, Woods hit the sandbelt course about 10am (NZT) today, with a huge crowd lining the fairways and television network helicopters flying above him.

The Masters, which begins on Thursday, will be Woods' first event in Australia since the 1998 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

He is yet to win on Australian soil, with his only two other events in the country the 1996 Australian Open at the Australian Golf Club and the 1997 Masters at Huntingdale.

But much greater hype has surrounded this visit by the world No 1, a winner of 14 majors, with Woods paid US$3.25 million ($4.5 million) for his appearance in the Masters.

All four rounds, of the tournament, which begins on Thursday, have sold out, as has Wednesday's pro-am.

Woods comes into the event in solid form, having placed sixth at the World Golf Championships tournament in Shanghai, which finished on Sunday.

- AAP