Tiger attracts the hecklers

Tiger Woods has already been subjected to unfriendly remarks from the crowd at this week's US Open in North Carolina.

Woods played his first practice round for the event with Open champion Mark O'Meara, who said afterwards: "There's no need for yelling out certain comments out there.

"That would never have happened 12 or 15 years ago, but it's starting to happen more. There are a lot more smart comments coming from the gallery."

Asked what they were O'Meara added: "You hear all sorts of things. 'You're not the man - David Duval is number one, you're number two.'

"Tiger's not going to snap back, but I let the fans know what I thought. I set them straight.

"Ten or 15 years ago if someone in a gallery made some kind of smart remark, the person in the gallery next to him would have grabbed him and said 'Hey, you don't do that, that's just not right.'

"Now the gallery has become more vocal. It's just ridiculous to make some of the statements that they do.

"It's not right to go out there and not respect the players that are trying to play the game.

"Tiger's very good at fending them off and tries not to let them bother him, but deep down inside you know your hear those things. Unfortunately, that's the aspect of the game that has changed that I don't like."

Australian Craig Parry was also in the group and he asked Woods whether it was always the same.

Woods replied: "Pretty much" and Parry then said: "No thanks."

There is increased player security this year following the heckling of Colin Montgomerie for the last two US Opens and new guidelines on the sale of alcohol are being used.