Tiger Woods has had another painful lesson about the problem of autograph hunters.

The world No. 1, who this week attempts to become the first player since Walter Hagen in the 1920s to win three successive PGA Championship titles, was poked in the face Monday after practicing at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

The fan appeared to have been attempting to get Woods to take a pen from him when the incident happened.

Woods recoiled, grabbed his face and quickly found the safe haven of the clubhouse, feeling the inside of his mouth with his tongue as he went.

When someone remarked to him that the security around him appeared a little light the 25-year-old, who normally is protected wherever he goes, said: "Tell me about it."

He nearly did not play a tournament earlier this season after injuring an ankle trying to get through the gallery after another practice round. The same thing happened to Colin Montgomerie in a recent Irish Open.

Virtually all top players have spoken at some stage or other about the fears of being poked by pens or pencils.

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