Top > Sport > 2006 > September > 2006-09-15

Woods hits for sixth straight British win

The highest paid golfer ? and athlete - in the world is chasing a 1 million pound prize (about $1.87 million). The prize money awaits the winner of the World Match Play Championship in England, to begin Thursday. It is the richest official prize money in the world.

After the championship, Woods will continue his tour of England and Ireland with the American Express Championship outside London, a World Golf Championship that pays $1.3 million for first place. A third exhibition in between the two championships awards the winner a gold cup, and no prize money. Asked which contest he would rather win, Woods said diplomatically: "All three events I play in."

If he wins, Woods` World Match Play Championship would be his sixth consecutive tournament won. When asked whether Woods is favorite to win, Colin Montgomerie said "I would say he`s favored to win every event he enters, this being no different. But match play is a strange game. It`s a different game, and over 36 holes, the cream usually rises to the top. I would expect for Tiger to be in the final, wouldn`t you?"

Woods was seen recently in the guest box of tennis champion Roger Federer during the US Open final game. Even at the top of his sport, he is inspired by the Swiss tennis player and by Formula-1 champion Michael Schumacher.