• Frys.com Open

Hot dog thrower 'wanted to be in the news' - Woods

Tiger Woods finished 30th at the Frys.com Open © PA Photos

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Tiger Woods claims he barely had time to fear for his own safety after a spectator was arrested for running onto the course at the Frys.com Open and throwing a hot dog at the former world No. 1.

Woods was lining up a birdie putt at the seventh hole during his final round in California when his focus was broken by the unwelcome intruder. The American went on to card a steady 68 that left him tied for 30th on his return to action, but his golfing performance was not the major talking point post-event.

After what should have been the least spectacular of weeks for Woods, he again finds himself in headlines after being the target of a hot dog. The spectator yelled Woods' name as he ran towards the green, tossing his item of food before voluntarily falling to the floor to be arrested by security.

The hot dog did not land within 20 yards of Woods, but the vision of an intruder running towards the 14-time major winner, yelling his name, understandably could have caused alarm.

"When I looked up, the hot dog was already in the air," said Woods. "He was pretty far away from me [though].

"[He] laid on the ground and looked like he wanted to be arrested because he put his hands behind his back and turned his head.

"I guess he wanted to be in the news. And I'm sure he will be."

India's Arjun Atwal, playing in the group behind Woods, summed up the serious nature of the incident, pointing out the fact that the spectator could have been mistaken for a real criminal. "They could have shot him," Atwal said. "The cops could have thought it was something else."

The Frys.com Open was won by Bryce Molder, who picked up his first win on the PGA Tour by winning the longest play-off of the year. In his 132nd attempt, Molder clinched victory on the sixth extra hole.

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