Woods in a flap about "Attacker"

Tiger Woods tonight admitted he feared he was about to be attacked at The Open - by a skimpily clad blonde.

The World number one, who has received death threats in the past and is protected by his own band of security men, was stunned when the woman broke through the packed galleries.

Woods was bending down to move his marker out of playing partner Ian Woosnam's line when the local woman, dressed only in black G-string and bra, evaded Open marshals and the American's own guards to run on to the 18th green and give the former Masters champion a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

But while it all ended harmlessly, Woods admitted he at first felt threatened.

"My first instinct was to protect myself," said Woods, who was playing with Woosnam and Australian Craig Parry. "I was just standing there. I had just put my ball down and I was kinda asking Woosie to move his marker and all of a sudden he started laughing.

"His eyes went to my right and he kept chuckling. I looked back down and all of a sudden I saw these feet run by. I'd just put my hat down and I could hardly see. I looked up and there she was. She just gave me a hug, a quick kiss and ran off.

"Luckily she didn't have a lot on because if someone comes out of the stand like that and has a lot of clothing on you never know what they have in there or what they're hiding behind their back.

"I could see she didn't have anything in her hands because her hands were up. She didn't have a whole lot on so I guess I assumed then it was a pretty benign situation.

"It could have been more dangerous if somebody had more on or had one of their hands behind their back or something."

The woman was arrested, taken to Arbroath police station and charged with a breach of the peace.

Tomorrow police will meet with Open stewards to tighten security. Police superintendent Brian Kirk said: "We don't want a repetition, but there have been no other problems today."

Woods admitted his main concern, once he knew he was in no danger, was for the woman's feet.

"I was wearing spikes," he said. "And I didn't want to step on her feet because she was barefoot. "Then I just tried to get my focus back."

Then Woods added with a chuckle: "It was a lot better than Peter Jacobsen" - a reference to the time Jacobsen rugby-tackled a male streaker at Sandwich in 1985.

Woods was also in good mood after a round of 74 - three over par but which he insisted was really "under my par" in the fearsome conditions.

"The fairways are pretty narrow and they haven't given us enough room in the landing areas," he said. "It is very difficult to keep the ball in play. But I am very pleased with today's round."

He did admit, however, that it was a real test of mental toughness.

"I said to my caddie 'Are we close to being done and it was only the seventh hole'," said Woods after a round which included four bogeys and just one birdie. "There are usually one or two holes on which you can relax but not here. I was hitting some pretty weird clubs out there.

"You could seriously injure yourself in this rough and you are always going to get worn out."