MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Tiger Woods put the finishing touches on the Grand Strand's celebrity-rich weekend Monday.
Woods made Myrtle Beach his first stop after Sunday's historic Masters victory, dropping by to cut the ribbon and open the new Official All Star Cafe.
``I'm glad to be here,'' he told about some 2,000 fans who had shown up. ``Where's the warm weather?
``It's exciting to be opening my own place in Myrtle Beach, which is probably the golf mecca of the world.''
The 21-year-old Woods had kept the sports world glued to its television set over the weekend as he became the first black golfer African American to win the once-restricted Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
He established several records along the way, including the lowest tournament score and largest margin of victory.
``I'm still on cloud nine9,'' he said. ``It was a great moment. When I knew I'd won the tournament is when I hugged my mom and pop. I lost it. If you saw it on TV, you know I cried big time.''
Asked about his new green Masters jacket, which he was given for winning at Augusta National, Woods saidjoked, ``I slept with it last night.''
Woods brought some Masters memorabilia to place in the new Tiger Woods Clubhouse inside the All Star Cafe, including a signed blank score card, a signed Masters program and a signed menu from Sunday night's Champions Dinner. (The main courses: prime beef mignon, sea bass and broiled lamb chop.)
The Tiger Woods Clubhouse also features various other memorabilia, including a showcase of his amateur career and clothes he has worn at some of his professional tournaments. It also has several Titleist balls and a King Cobra driver.
Hanging from the ceiling is a Rolls- Royce golf cart from Pine Lakes International _ the Grand Strand's first golf course.
Woods' appearance at the ribbon-cutting was scheduled for 12:30 p.m. He got there late and stayed around only about 40 minutes before he left quietly out the back way.
He signed only a handful of autographs _ including a Sun News sports page photo of himself for WWMX-FM (97.7) morning personality Terri Springs.
Woods' next stop will not be this week's MCI Classic at Hilton Head Island. He will not be playing in the tournament.
Instead, he was heading for Atlantic City, N.J., where he and other sports celebrities were opening another Official All Star Cafe on Monday night. On Sunday night, a slate of Hollywood and sports stars, from Joe Montana and Ken Griffey Jr. to Bruce Willis and Patrick Swayze, appeared for a double grand opening of the side-by-side Planet Hollywood and All Star Cafe. Woods could not make it because he was preoccupied in Augusta.
On Monday, Woods was joined on the steps of the All Star Cafe by Myrtle Beach Mayor Bob Grissom _ who was called ``Mayor Christian'' by All Star Cafe President Ian Hamilton, who quickly corrected himself.
Grissom gave Woods the key to the city and joked about having Tiger Woods and ``Bobcat Grissom'' on the same stage.
Before he left, Woods had two other assignments: He helped toss golf balls, T-shirts and caps to fans, then escorted the first official customers into the All Star Cafe.
They were the Whiteville, N.C., family of Hugh and Boo Hassell and children Joanna, 12, Jim, 5, and Virginia, 4.
The family had watched Woods in Augusta Saturday, then driven to Myrtle Beach early Monday to see him close up, arriving at 9:30 a.m.
``They had to come see Tiger,'' Hugh Hassell said of his childrenkids.
``He's a really good player,'' Joanna said. ``His swing is so graceful.''
Dan Harf, vice president of operations for both Planet Hollywood and All Star Cafe, introduced Woods by calling him ``the most incredible, the coolest, the most fantastic athlete in the world.''
Harf's home base is in Orlando, Fla., and he got to know Woods at Isleworth Golf Club, where both play.
Just a couple weeks ago Woods shot a 59 at the club playing with fellow member and good friend Mark O'Meara. The score broke O'Meara's club record by five strokes.
``He's the nicest kid you'd ever want to meet,'' Harf said.
He added that once they were playing together when Harf got a call from his son saying he had made the high-school basketball team.
``Tiger got as excited as I did and made sure I told him how great that was that he made the team,.'' Harf said.
KRT Photo Service, 202-383-6099:
TIGER 1 (KRT20 Horiz. C) Tiger Woods tosses golf balls off the entry way of the Official All Star Cafe in Myrtle Beach. (MB) RTR, PL, AP
(Sports editor John Brasier contributed to this report.)
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