With the hype and hoopla that constantly surrounds him, it has reached the stage that whenever and wherever Tiger Woods turns up to play it far transcends being simply a golf tournament.

And so it was at the ninth Johnnie Walker Classic at Taipei's Ta Shee Golf and Country Club where Woods spent as much time in the limelight off the course as he did on it.

It was not just because he was the defending champion that people were referring to the tournament as the Tiger Woods Classic.

Whether you were picking up a newspaper or casually flicking through the television channels, everywhere you turned there was Tiger - smiling for the cameras, shaking hands, signing autographs, attending charity fund-raisers, serving drinks behind the bar and holding golf clinics for children.

Throughout last week he was routinely pictured on the front pages of Taiwan's newspapers with politicians and local celebrities, keen not to miss the opportunity to enhance their own reputations by being seen in his presence.

Given the extent and the varied nature of the activities he undertook in the 144 hours he was in Taipei, and the print and electronic media exposure that accompanied his every appointment, it was easy to forget that the world number one had come here to play golf.

What made Tiger's debut appearance in Taiwan especially poignant was that it came just five weeks after an earthquake devastated the country.

'I am very aware of the tough circumstances that the victims of the earthquake find themselves in and I am glad to be able to help. I'm trying in a small way to do my part,' said Tiger at his 30-minute pre-tournament press conference. And help he did, to the tune of almost US$1 million.

As well as encouraging thousands to venture to the course where all gate receipts went to the earthquake fund, a set of Tiger's clubs were sold for US$212,500 at an auction on Thursday night.

Another item on the auction agenda was a clinic with Woods following his second round on Friday.

A further US$171,875 was forthcoming for that.

Although he was not at his best on the golf course where he could only manage an even-par 72, Woods was at his most charismatic by the time he turned up for the clinic.

For 45 minutes, Woods held his elite audience, including President Lee Teng-hui and First Lady Tseng Wen-fui, spell-bound as he went through all the shots in the book - high, low, hook, slice - and many that are not. Not only was it a master-class in instruction, but also a chance for Woods to instruct parents not to push their children at golf.

Said Woods: 'This game was made to be a fun and joyous experience. Many parents are too pushy and kids become rebellious. You want the kids to enjoy it.

'My father never asked me if I wanted to practice. It was always up to me. I had the drive from within. Also it was in my blood. I wanted to become a champion.' It is premature to expect such an eventuality this week when the Tiger Woods Asian roadshow rolls into Kuala Lumpur. Woods and Mark O'Meara will fly the flag for America in the 45th World Cup of Golf.

The American duo are overwhelming favourites for the 32-nation tournament at The Mines Resort.

Similarly chaotic scenes to those which marked his arrival in Taiwan are expected when Woods and his entourage set foot in the Malaysian capital.

On the course, the greatest threat to the Americans would appear likely to come from Scotland (Colin Montgomerie and Dean Robertson) and Argentina (Eduardo Romero and Angel Cabrera).