Tight security as Woods defies cyanide threat

Security measures intensified in Auckland yesterday as Tiger Woods flew in to prepare for the previously unheralded landmark on the golfing calendar that is the New Zealand Open.

Woods had earlier reaffirmed his commitment to make his debut in New Zealand and play in what is usually a low-key Australasian PGA event despite cyanide threats received by the United States embassy in Wellington at the weekend.

"Things like this do happen," Woods said after finishing 10th at the Mercedes Championships in Hawaii on Sunday. "You have to go on living your life. It's unfortunate that people have these types of views and do these types of acts. I'm going to go down there and enjoy myself."

Police are taking seriously a threatening letter that contained a sachet of highly poisonous cyanide mailed in December to the US Embassy in Wellington. The threat was not made against Woods directly, but to the New Zealand Open that begins on Thursday.

Jon White, assistant police commissioner in Wellington, said it was "clear the threats had been made because Woods was playing". White added: "We are trying to find a middle path ­ remembering that this letter could be a hoax ­ between over-reacting and being too prematurely dismissive." Security has been increased and police are asking spectators to be especially vigilant.

The New Zealand Open has courted controversy ever since Woods announced in May of last year that he would play at Paraparaumu Beach, about 30 miles north of Wellington. The course is near where his caddie, Steve Williams, grew up. "I've always wanted to go down to New Zealand, but Stevie is from there and I just want to go down there and support him," Woods said, before it was revealed that the promoters were paying the world No 1 a reported $2m (£1.4m) in appearance money.

It was then announced that ticket prices would rise to such a degree that two of New Zealand's top golfers, Michael Campbell and Greg Turner, threatened to boycott the event.