Woods says will defend his JBWere Masters title in Melbourne

Melbourne, June 9 (ANI): Tiger Woods will defend his Australian Masters title at Victoria Golf Club in November - and Victoria's taxpayers will again chip in half the three million dollar bill.

I am pleased to be able to return to Melbourne to defend the JBWere Masters," Fox Sports quoted Woods, as saying.

"The Australian galleries made last year's event a great experience for all the players and I look forward to playing again," he added.

Last year's outbreak of Tigermania pumped an estimated 34 million dollars into Victoria's economy, with more than 106,000 fans attending the sell-out, four-day event.

Major Events Minister Tim Holding said the Victorian Government was delighted to have lured Woods back to Melbourne.

"Tiger's personal matters are matters for him and his family. The 2010 event smashed all records and I expect the interest in Tiger returning to Melbourne will be huge," Holding said. (ANI)