Tiger going to Germany

Tiger Woods will play his first pro event in Germany in May.

Clinging onto the World No. 1 spot from fast- closing sensation David Duval, the 23-year-old Californian has entered the May 21-24 Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe in the ancient university town of Heidelberg.

Excitement at the prospect of seeing the phenom in action is at such a peak that already the organisers of the $1.7 million-euro tournament have declared the event an all-ticket affair.

Tiger Mania has decreed a limit of 20,000 spectators a day at the St Leon-Rot venue.

Woods, still the biggest draw in the game despite 59-shooter Duval's incredible streak, has never before played in Continental Europe although he's been a regular visitor to the United Kingdom.

"This is my first visit to Germany ever," Woods said. "I'm looking forward to competing in the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open, which I consider to be one of the most prestigious events on the PGA European Tour."

The attendance limit is a first in Germany. Not even Bernhard Langer, far and away Germany's finest player ever, has been deemed a powerful enough draw to enforce a crowd limit

TRW