Sydney - Tiger Woods on Tuesday took to Melbourne's sandy Kingston Heath course, geared up for the Australian Masters later this week.

Despite the nine holes being just an early-morning practice round for the world's top golfer, more than 5,000 spectators turned out to watch him in action.

All four rounds of the Masters, which begins Thursday, have sold out in what is a first for Australia.

Woods, whose appearance fee is 10 times what he will pocket if he wins, last played a tournament in Australia 11 years ago.

Despite the long absence, golf's only superstar told reporters at a nationally televised press conference that Australia was one of his favourite places to play golf.

"I always have been a huge fan of the sandbelt courses," he said. "The bunkering is just phenomenal. You never get a chance to see bunkering like this any other place in the world."

His first visit, as a 20-year-old, was in 1996, the year the three-time US amateur champion turned professional.

He hasn't actually won a tournament in Australia, tying for fifth in 1996 and coming in eighth the following year. He played in 1998, when an international team delivered the US team its only loss.

Woods, who has won 14 Majors, arrived in his private jet from Shanghai after coming in tied for sixth in the World Golf Championships tournament in China's biggest city. (dpa)