At $1.5 Million, Australia Is Getting Tiger Woods at a Bargian

In this day and age of corporate executives literally robbing taxpaying citizens through multi-million dollar bonuses while their companies continue to receive government bailout funds, it is no surprise that the Australian people are a little bit angry about their government handing Tiger Woods a $1.5 million check just to show up at the Australian Masters.

Tiger Woods is being paid a total of $3 million Australian dollars, which translates to $2.08 million US Dollars, just to show up at the Australian Masters in November.

$1.5 million is coming from Woods’ management company IMG, who run the Australian Masters, and the other $1.5 million is coming from Australian taxpayers.

Maybe it’s because it’s been ten years since Woods last played in Australia, or maybe it could be due to the fact that Australians are used to the Australian Masters drawing about as large of a crowd as a PGA Tour fall series event.  

Whatever the reason may be, many Australian citizens do not seem to understand exactly what kind of economic impact Tiger Woods can have on an entire community simply by showing up.

The amount of money Woods will bring into the local economy by showing up at the Australian Masters for four days could very well make that $1.5 million the best money the Australian government has ever spent.

Victoriastate premier John Brumby estimates that Woods appearance at the Australian Masters could draw as many as 100,000 fans and pump as much as $19 million into the community.

“We expect thousands of visitors from interstate and overseas will come to Melbourne to see the world’s greatest golfer on one of Melbourne’s world-class golf course,” the premier said in the statement. “The event will boost tourism, create jobs for Victorians and beam Melbourne to millions of people through a worldwide television audience.”

100,000 fans could actually be an underestimate.  Woods hasn’t played in Australia in more than ten years and although he will be back in Melbourne for the 2011 Presidents Cup, no one knows if he will ever return for another Australian Tour event. 

Basically, anyone in Australia who is even remotely interested in the game of golf will make the pilgrimage to Kingston Heath Golf Club just outside of Melbourne, to see Tiger Woods in person while they have the chance.

By appearing at the Australian Masters, Woods will boost hotel bookings, money made at restaurants and fast food joints, money spent on public transportation, money people will spend on food and drinks at the event itself, and countless other forms of income that would otherwise be a fraction of what they will be when Woods attends the event in November.

If Woods’ appearance does actually pump around $19 million into the local economy, the Australian government would make a more than a 1,000 percent profit on their investment in Tiger Woods. 

I don’t know much about the dealings of the Australian government, but I would have to imagine that an investment that creates a 1,000 percent profit margin would rank up there amongst the best investments they will make all year.

Now, I know the citizens of Australia might be angry about seeing some of their tax money go to a man that is likely to become sports first billionaire within the next five years.

However, there is a reason Tiger Woods is being referred to as the PGA Tour’s one man economic stimulus package, and the city of Melbourne will see just why that is in November.

With the amount of money Woods’ is sure to bring into the local economy in Melbourne, at $1.5 million, Australia is actually getting Woods at quite a bargain.