There is no question that the Johnnie Walker Charity Classic held from November 9th to 14th at the Ta Shee Golf and Country Club in Taoyuan was the largest tournament ever held in Taiwan. In addition to Woods, the top-ranked golfer in the world today, over 120 other golfers were invited by the tournament sponsor United Distillers and Vintners, including England's Nick Faldo, South Africa's Ernie Els and Fiji's Vijay Singh. The NT$20-million tournament also attracted 87 journalists from around the world. Attended by more than 30,000 fans, the tournament was carried off with the help of some 1,500 volunteers and 580 full- and part-time employees of the country club.

But Tiger's performance in Taiwan did not match his recent performance on the US and European tours, where he had won four consecutive tournaments. Tiger shot 281 for the tournament, finishing sixth. New Zealand's Michael Campbell shot 276 to take home the tournament's NT$6.8 million first prize.

Although Woods did not win, his amazing abilities left those fans on hand to observe them very satisfied. Making his first appearance before a Taiwanese gallery, Woods whacked one shot 370 yards with a seemingly effortless stroke, and nearly all his drives throughout the tournament surpassed 300 yards. As one member of the gallery remarked, "They shoot off just like bullets." When Woods' ball rolled into the trees while playing the sixteenth hole of the third round, Woods was unwilling to lose a stroke by taking a drop. Instead, he used his strength to push the ball out and up onto the green. Woods bent his club making the shot, but made par and earned the admiration of the crowd for his willingness to take chances. As Wang Te-chang, a member of the ROC's national golf team put it, Woods wouldn't give up on a shot with even a 1% chance of success. Perhaps this is the secret to his many victories.

But Tiger Fever involved more than his play on the course. During his four-day visit Woods agreed to participate in fund-raising activities organized by the Taiwanese sponsors of the tournament. Clubs, autographed balls and lessons were donated for auction, and he participated in a celebrity cocktail event, raising NT$7.7 million for earthquake relief-more than 20% of the NT$36 million which the Johnnie Walker charity auction raised in total.

The birth of a champion

Tiger Woods was born in California in 1975. At the age of six months, he began imitating his father's swing as he practiced. At the age of three, he shot a 48 over nine holes. In August of 1996, he won his third consecutive United States Amateur Championship, and turned pro. Still only 20 years old, he was the youngest player ever to join the Professional Golfer's Association (PGA).

Woods gained the number-one ranking 42 weeks after he joined the PGA. Over the last three years, he has made the cut in every tournament in which he has played on the US Tour, taking home 14 victories and career earnings of more than US$10 million. Before coming to Taiwan for the Johnnie Walker Charity Classic, he had won four consecutive tournaments and was the leading money winner on the tour, with over US$6 million in winnings in 1999. These numbers, which Tiger has managed to produce in less than four years, are the kind golf's older generation might only have seen after a 20- or 30-year career. According to the Min Sheng Pao newspaper: "People used to believe that golfers didn't really come into their prime until they reached about 30. Woods has turned this idea on its head."

Woods' aggressive style of play is gradually changing the once quietly graceful game of professional golf into something that combines power and beauty. In the US in particular, the Tiger Fever of the last few years is getting more young people interested in giving golf a try and helping the game to shed its country-club image.

Woods is also unique in terms of his ethnic background-his father is African-American, while his mother is part Chinese and part Thai. There are few outstanding African-American players in American professional golf, but on the subject of his own excellence, Woods lets his clubs do the talking.

At a press conference held shortly after his arrival in Taiwan, Woods mentioned that the paddies along the route from the airport to the Ta Shee Golf and Country Club reminded him of his mother's hometown in Thailand. "It felt like coming home." He also expressed his interest in Chinese culture, mentioning that he would like to spend some time learning more about it. During a 45-minute clinic, Woods also reminded everyone to enjoy the game, and not to force it. Woods said that grueling practice was not necessary, and that to play well, one need only take pleasure in the game. Success grows out of having an interest in what one does. Woods' advice is worth remembering.

In less than one short week, Tiger Fever swept through Taiwan. The downside of this otherwise happy event involved the galleries at the tournament, who disturbed the players by making calls on their cell phones from the course, and moving about and taking pictures while players were taking their shots. Some members of the gallery even wore high-heeled shoes on the course. "They showed an utter lack of respect for golf etiquette. It went beyond the point where you could use 'over-enthusiasm' as an excuse," commented one reporter on the sports beat. On the sixth hole of the final round, Woods couldn't take anymore and told the marshals, "I want all these people out of here!" Having this kind of news plastered all over the international media must be ironic for those who hope to use such tournaments to raise Taiwan's profile in the international community.

Woods and the other internationally known players invited to the tournament played well. Woods finished sixth with a score of 281. South Africa's Ernie Els finished third with a score of 278. And Fiji's Vijay Singh was fourth with a score of 279. Only England's Nick Faldo had serious troubles, and missed finishing in the top ten.

Six local players also participated in the tournament, but only Lu Wen-te and Wang Te-chang made the cut, finishing 50th and 55th, respectively. Wang blamed his less than outstanding performance on greens that were too hard, a result of changes made to the course because of Tiger's participation. Lu, on the other hand, thought the changes to the course made it more challenging. Lu also commented that he had learned a lot by playing among such exalted company, and thought the experience would help him at future tournaments abroad.

Many within Taiwan's golf community feel that while having the Johnnie Walker Charity Classic here was important in that it will stimulate the development of golf on the island, a still greater effect is that it will raise the level of Taiwan's players and galleries. In this way, Tiger Fever may grow into something more than a 24-hour bug.

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The typical Tiger Woods' swing involves a strong twist of the shoulders and a small turning of the hips, generating a tremendous amount of torque. No wonder he hits the ball 300 yards!

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New Zealand's Michael Campbell upset all pre-tournament expectations by winning the 1999 Johnnie Walker Charity Classic. Campbell, who has not won a tournament in four years, said that the key to his victory was keeping himself steady and focused throughout the tournament.

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More than 30,000 people came to see this year's Johnnie Walker Charity Classic, making it the largest golf event in Taiwan's history.

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Tiger Woods' trademark smile is much beloved by golf fans. Woods, who is part Chinese, said that he hoped his participation in charity activities during his visit to Taiwan would be of some help. He also expressed his concern for Taiwan's future development, and his hope that he would be able to visit the island again.

New Zealand's Michael Campbell upset all pre-tournament expectations by winning the 1999 Johnnie Walker Charity Classic. Campbell, who has not won a tournament in four years, said that the key to his victory was keeping himself steady and focused throughout the tournament.

More than 30,000 people came to see this year's Johnnie Walker Charity Classic, making it the largest golf event in Taiwan's history.

Tiger Woods' trademark smile is much beloved by golf fans. Woods, who is part Chinese, said that he hoped his participation in charity activities during his visit to Taiwan would be of some help. He also expressed his concern for Taiwan's future development, and his hope that he would be able to visit the island again.