“Come Back Tiger,
   we need you!"

That’s what the Victorian Government is saying and why wouldn’t they? The much criticized $3 million invested to bring Tiger to Melbourne for The Masters has reaped a One Thousand Percent return according to an independent source.

Victoria state tourism minister Tim Holding said the American was welcome back anytime, despite the revelations about his personal life, after his appearance injected A$34 million (US$31 million) into the local economy, almost double the initial forecast.   

“This was truly a great event for Melbourne and Victoria that delivered a massive boost to our tourism industry, attracted thousands of visitors to our state and beamed Melbourne to a global audience,” Hulls said. “Due to unprecedented ticket sales and public interest, the actual impact was almost double what was forecast.”

Hulls said Melbourne’s major hotels were almost completely booked during the Masters and golf courses across the state reported a surge in players. He said there were also economic spinoffs for restaurants, taxis and the retail sector.

A sellout crowd of more than 107,000 attended the four-day tournament and thousands more the Wednesday pro-am and practice days.

"We have made it clear that Tiger is welcome to come play golf any time in Victoria ," Holding told reporters. "The question of what Tiger Woods does in the future is a matter for him, we respect that and he is always welcome to play here."

Will Tiger come back?

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie expresses the opinion of many. "It's a shame and a pity this has happened to our iconic sportsman and I say that as a fellow player who has admired him as a golfer.

"You just hope things sort themselves out and he gets back to playing golf and winning tournaments."

Montgomerie predicts Tiger Woods will have great difficulty in focusing when he returns to competitive golf. In an interview with Sky Sports, Montgomerie had a great deal to say about Tiger, the scandal, and its potential effect on golf.

"It is absolutely impossible to play good golf with all that going on. There was a reason why Tiger didn't win a major last year, the first year for a long time. We now understand possibly the reasons why."

"I can only speak for myself and say during a time like that you can just about make it to the next tee if you make a birdie or a par but with a bogey the world collapses around you," added Montgomerie, who went through a high profile divorce himself in 2006. 

"A round of golf is an emotional roller-coaster anyway. I think it must have been similar for him."

"I think the mystique has gone. I think the mysterious nature of the guy has gone. He is suddenly, you hate to say, more normal now. Let's hope golf isn't damaged by that."

"There is no question there was an aura about Tiger Woods over this incredible record he has, not just in majors but in other world events."

"That wall has been split slightly and there are cracks. It gives us more opportunity to find ways of winning these events now and I am thinking of myself as well as my peers."

He added: "He's disproved everybody so far and no doubt he'll come back and win more majors. I think it'll be tougher now but he'll be out to prove to everybody that he can still do it under extreme pressure."