"I've represented Tiger for more than 12 years and it is pandemonium and craziness wherever he goes."

Mark Hayes quotes a remarkably chatty agent Mark Steinberg who is pumping up Tiger's triumphant return to Australia this December.

"It has been such a tumultuous year and I think he's really paid the price," Steinberg said from his Cleveland office.

"But it's time to move forward. He has answered all the questions that he's going to answer and I hope that he's heading for a productive week in Melbourne.

"He's really looking forward to coming down. The fans were absolutely tremendous to him last year and he's expecting another good reception."

Steinberg said he did not expect a different reaction to last year's Tiger mania.

"Let's hope not. People in Australia have been so great to him in the past, he's apologised and it's time to move forward and start his new life," he said.

"He's spending a tremendous amount of time with his two kids, which has been great for him."

About those fond memories from last year...

"I've represented Tiger for more than 12 years and it is pandemonium and craziness wherever he goes," he said.

"But I will say that it was ratcheted up an extra notch in Melbourne last year - in a good way, by the way.

Glad we got that clarified.

"The crowd and fans couldn't have been nicer, couldn't have been more welcoming. But it was quite a scene.

"He's got fond memories and he likes to go back and defend where he wins so he's looking for back-to-back wins in Melbourne."