Tiger arrives for date with Delhi Golf Club

New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS) Legendary golfer Tiger Woods arrived here Monday for his first visit to India. He will be playing an exhibition match Tuesday that has been organised by leading motorcycle company Hero Motocorp.

Tiger, World No.1, arrived here from Dubai, where he took part in the Dubai Desert Classic, and was whisked away from the VIP area at the airport amidst tight security.

Woods will be playing a round of golf with Pawan Munjal, CEO and managing director of Hero Motocorp, and some members at the premier Delhi Golf Club. The American golfer will also play a round of skins with India’s leading golfers Shiv Kapur and Anirban Lahiri.

The motorcycle makers are reportedly paying Woods $2.2 million dollars in appearance money for one day.

Meanwhile, preparations were in full swing Monday evening as the DGC gears up to give Woods a memorable welcome.

“He will be playing Tuesday with Shiv Kapur, Lahiri, Mr. Munjal and a few of his guests. This will be an ‘only members’ event and one can see that the DGC is undergoing a mini-renovation for Woods’ visit,” Jasjit Singh, a top coach at the DGC told IANS.

“A huge crowd is expected to come and all the kids who come for coaching are especially excited.”

Preparations at the DGC were in overdrive as workers scurried around to get everything in place. New pagoda-styled structures has been erected next to the Annexe building to house all the guests for lunch.

A huge billboard of Woods along side Hero MotoCorp will welcome the golfer as he enters the course. New stands for members to watch the proceedings have also been put in prominent places like the first hole.

Small hoardings of Hero welcoming Woods have been dispersed all around the course to add to the effect.

The DGC Food and Beverage department will provide lunch for all the members but Woods will be eating delicacies provided by ITC Maurya.

Karun Malik, an avid golfer and a DGC member, was left a little aggrieved when he couldn’t use the chipping range due to the work being done. Though initially irritated, he too was waiting anxiously to meet Woods.

“I went to the chipping range to hit a few shots, however, they were doing some work for Woods’ visit. I was a little irritated by the inconvenience but it’s fine. One does not see a player like Tiger Woods coming here everyday so I can excuse the club this time,” he told IANS.