Woods has only made three previous appearances down under

Tiger Woods will play his first tournament in Australia for more than a decade later this year but it has sparked a row over his appearance fee.

Woods is reportedly being paid $3m (£2.1m) to compete in November's Australian Masters but there is concern it will impact on other events.

Australia's former Open winner Peter Thomson said: "In my view it's going to damage our national Open.

"He won't be playing in that but it sucks up potential sponsorship."

The Australian Open takes place two weeks after the Masters in Melbourne.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Woods' appearance fee

But Stuart Appleby, one of Australia's leading players, said Woods would have a positive influence on the local circuit.

"It will be great for the game and bring out a lot of people who haven't seen him before, in person, not on a video game," he said.

"There's a lot of people hurting in Australia, and they might look negatively that one guy is paid $3m just to turn up.

"The common man won't understand the business model because the government is paying for it. They might not see the money he brings in."

The Victoria state tax payers will reportedly cover half the cost of Woods' visit via the government support for the event.

But state premier John Brumby predicted Woods' appearance would earn $19m (£9m) in economic benefits.

It will be Woods' fourth tournament appearance down under and first since the 1998 Presidents Cup, when the US lost to the International team at Royal Melbourne.

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