GOLF:The extraordinary story of Tiger Woods, a black American who became the most dominant player in a sport known as a bastion of social conservatism, became even more extraordinary yesterday when it emerged the world's number one golfer developed his skills as a teenager against a backdrop of harassment, some of it racially motivated, at his first club in southern California.

In a series of exclusive interviews, friends and contemporaries of Woods and his late father, Earl, described how the young prodigy was targeted by a minority at the US navy club in Cypress, who tried to make his life difficult.

"Part of the problem was, some of the members didn't want a young kid running around the place, but it was also because of the colour of his skin," said Scott von Eps, who worked there in the early 1990s.

Bob Rogers, a retired army officer, was one of an informal group, including Woods and his father, who played the military-owned course every weekend. He remembers a "wonderful young man" who maintained his dignity.

"When he won the US Amateur he offered to let them display the trophy. They didn't even acknowledge he had made the offer," Rogers said. "Nothing was said at the time but I know there were some hurt feelings. The club should have rolled out the red carpet for Tiger . . . They acted like there was nothing special about him."

Shortly after Woods won the first of three US Amateur titles he was, according to accounts, racially abused by a former club employee who accused him of hitting balls into a garden.

For years the club failed to acknowledge Woods had ever been a fixture but Joe Grohman, a former assistant professional at the club who has returned as head professional, is hoping to mount a display in the clubhouse dedicated to him: "What happened to Tiger is a dark stain on this place. We want him to know that the club is sorry, that we love him and he can come home any time."

Gregg Smith, a spokesman for the US navy, acknowledged yesterday Woods had been treated badly by a few, but said these were not representative of the club or the US military: "Those who may have been involved were mostly retired military. And what happens with certain people like that is their view of society was formed 20 or 30 years earlier."

It takes real talent to make people feel sorry for the R&A but, as the world's best players descended on Carnoustie yesterday for this week's British Open, the South African David Frost made a strong argument that, no matter what the tournament organisers do, they cannot win. "It is quite easy," said Frost after playing a practice round on the course that caused so much trouble when the tournament was staged here in 1999. "Perhaps it is too easy."

Easy is not a word heard often in the same sentence as Carnoustie, and if the wind blows all this week the gentlemen of the Royal & Ancient may have the satisfaction of seeing Frost look silly. In the meantime they can take comfort from the fact most of those who played the course yesterday were impressed.

Eight years ago descriptions of choice included "ridiculous", "evil" and "a joke". This time players describe it as "terrific" and "a thinking man's links".

Tom Lehman, winner of the 1996 Open, was emphatic in his praise. "Two words," he said. "It's perfect."

Tiger Woods was equally impressed after playing his now traditional Sunday practice round. "It's playing great. I like it and it's fair," he said.

Even more effusive was Sandy Lyle, one of the most vociferous critics of the set-up in 1999 when the unheralded Paul Lawrie won with a score of six over par. The rough, virtually unplayable then, is thick in parts but not silly. Only those who miss the fairway by a wide margin will find themselves in deep trouble.

"It seems to me they have got the course right. Even if it gets windy out there, the course will be fair," said Lyle.

It was little wonder Peter Dawson, the R&A's chief executive, was walking around yesterday with a huge grin.

"It is very gratifying to hear the players like the course," he said. "We are very conscious of what the players think and what they tell us. If they voice their concerns, then we do listen."

Guardian Service