The Hindu : Sport : Federer pays Woods a visit

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Friday, Mar 23, 2007
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Federer pays Woods a visit

MIAMI: The No. 1 player wasn't even the most popular in his own group on Wednesday, and that was OK with Tiger Woods.

Roger Federer came out to watch him play at the Doral Golf Resort.

``It's pretty neat when you have probably the most dominant athlete on the planet out there in your gallery,'' Woods said after his practice round for the CA Championship, where he is the two-time defending champion.

This is the first time Woods and Federer, the top players in their sports, have competed in the same week at the same city. Federer's opening tennis match is on Saturday in the Sony Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne.

Woods and Federer, both IMG clients, struck up a friendship last summer when Woods sat in Federer's box during the U.S. Open final. Federer watched him play in Shanghai during the HSBC Champions last November, and they were together again in Dubai last month.

``I had never really seen live golf from professionals up until the last year,'' Federer said. ``It's different from sitting in a stadium watching soccer or a tennis match. You've got to know where to stand to see the ball. For me, it was hard to follow the ball. I lost it just because he hits it so hard and so far.''

A spectator sport?

The hardest part was getting a view from inside the ropes.

Dressed in blue jeans, an untucked collared shirt and a black cap, Federer showed up on the back nine and was swarmed by fans wanting autographs. A tournament official let him inside the ropes, but U.S. PGA Tour officials said he couldn't stay.

Only when Woods invited him in did Federer get some space.

``They said they didn't want to do me a favour because other players otherwise want the same treatment,'' Federer said. ``I guess just one Roger Federer was coming to the golf course today, so it was nice they got me inside the ropes.''

Woods said he understood the tour's policy.

``I'm sure I'll get fined for it,'' he said with a laugh.

Woods said he would go to Key Biscayne on Saturday to watch Federer.

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