TIGER WATCH: FANS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF TIGER.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

The Tiger-watching expedition of Tom Marlborough and Fred Macias had reached a crucial stage less than a half-hour into Saturday's third round of the Nissan Open.

``Well, we could go and stand by the tee, or we could go out about 250 yards and wait for him,'' Marlborough said to Macias, his friend and fellow Riviera Country Club member.

As the Mission Viejo residents, with a total of three youngsters in tow, planned their viewing strategy for the 11th hole, the object of their attention had yet to play his second shot on the par-4 No. 10.

``You have to plan ahead if you want to see Tiger Woods,'' Marlborough said. ``It's pretty amazing that he draws so many people, but it's hard to get a glimpse of any superstar, whether it's Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus or Michael Jordan.''

Marlborough brought along his 7-year-old daughter, Nicole, who watched attentively along with Macias' two sons of similar age as Woods strolled past and down the 10th fairway.

``We're bringing the kids out for the weekend, so we definitely wanted them to see Tiger play,'' Marlborough said. ``He's going to be their hero in a few years, so this is a good chance to see him up close and in person.''

Hundreds of people, and likely thousands at some points, lined the course three or four deep wherever Woods' ball came to rest, on the tee, fairway or green.

A lucky few on each hole pressed themselves against the ropes and had an unimpeded view of golf's newest superstar, but for the majority of the followers, the task was more difficult.

Joyce Machado, one of Woods' more vocal supporters Saturday, quickly mastered the art of peeking around and over her fellow fans to get a glimpse of Woods. Machado, who stands 5-foot-5, made the drive from Tulare, which is halfway between Fresno and Bakersfield, with her 23-year-old son, Joseph, for only one reason.

``I didn't even like golf before Tiger came along,'' Joyce Machado said. ``My son played in high school and college, so I knew about the sport, but I always thought it was kind of boring. Tiger is just a very impressive person. He has a lot of charisma, but I like the fact that he's not arrogant and that he doesn't show off. He could be the most pompous and arrogant guy out there, but he's not.''

As Machado spoke, her son was nowhere within sight. Was he out staking out a spot on the next green in preparation of Woods' arrival?

``No, he's out watching Fred Couples,'' Machado said. ``Freddie is his guy, no matter what, but he will be back out here watching Tiger later on.''

At times, it was easy to forget that there were 68 other golfers on the course besides the three in Woods' group. Actually, there were times when it was easy to forget that Woods even had playing partners.

Woods' double bogey on the 13th hole got a larger ovation than many of the birdie putts of Jesper Parnevik and Edward Fryatt, and fans around the green cheered each of Woods' approach shots, regardless of where they landed, seemingly just because they were happy to see his ball arrive.

Fans shouted encouragement to Woods throughout the round, and were remarkably quiet and polite considering their huge number. They only posed a problem when people stomped away from the tee and green areas after Woods' shots, even though other players were still trying to concentration their own attempts.

The largest fan-induced commotion came on the green at No. 8. Woods missed a 15-foot birdie putt by inches, and a fan behind the green yelled for medical assistance. A woman apparently suffered a minor case of sun stroke, and course officials delayed play for 10 minutes while they assisted the woman away from the green.

On the fairway at No. 9, Woods scolded a group of photographers, asserting one of them had snapped a picture during his downswing. Woods slammed his club into the side of his bag, but by that time his round had already featured a series of peaks and valleys.

Woods shot a 2-under 69 with five birdies, one bogey and his second double bogey in two days on No. 13, and at 6-under overall he is three shots behind leader David Sutherland. Woods missed several birdie putts from within 10 feet, but never lost the support of his legion of fans, even if one was surprised by the ``small'' crowd.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Tiger Woods attracts thousands of fans wherever he goes.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer