Tiger may play free of cost in Australian Open

“What I hope for is that Tiger becomes so rich that he begins to play at Australia’s great golf courses simply because they have worldwide stature,” he said.

“That’s why I am hopeful Tiger will play at Royal Melbourne when the Heineken Classic moves there (from Perth) after this year.”

The International Management Group which manages Woods and stages the Australian Open, would not comment.

Greg Norman, Briton Nick Faldo, American Mark O’Meara and Irishman Padraig Harrington, are the lead attractions at this year’s Open, from November 23-26 at Kingston Heath in Melbourne, with prize-money boosted by 25 per cent to 1.25 million Australian dollars.

Former winner Robert Allenby, a two-time US PGA Tour winner this year, and Stuart Appleby will be joined by Greg Chalmers and Mat Goggin.

Australian Open Chief Colin Phillips recently suggested the number of Australiasian tournaments be slashed in half to cope with the soaring cost of appearance fees.

He called for six big events over the Australian summer instead of the current schedule which lists 11, including the World Match Play in January.

“Prices have gone up dramatically since Tiger came on the scene and there is so much money on offer from competing events around the world,” Phillips said.

“In the last two to three years there has been a 30 to 40 per cent increase and everybody has been caught out.

“For a country of 19 million people we are trying to maintain too many golf tournaments.”