World No 3 picks Pittsburgh to clinch Super Bowl over the Packers on Feb 6

LA JOLLA, California - Tiger Woods conducted a Twitter exchange for about 40 minutes on Tuesday on his way to Torrey Pines ahead of his 2011 debut while golf rivals Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter tweeted some taunts.

Continuing a charm offensive that began with Woods joining the social networking medium last year, Woods made the Pittsburgh Steelers his Super Bowl pick over Green Bay and even poked fun at himself.

But he never answered the challenge of Poulter to post a photo of himself to prove it was indeed Woods who was issuing the messages nor commented on a tweet from world No 1 Westwood about fellow Englishman Poulter.

Neither Westwood nor Poulter will face Woods when the 14-time major champion tees off on Thursday at the $5.8 million Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines alongside fellow Americans Anthony Kim and Rocco Mediate.

Woods overcame a knee injury that would require surgery to defeat Mediate in an 18-hole playoff at Torrey Pines for the 2008 US Open title, but he has not won a major title since and has not won any event since his epic sex scandal erupted 14 months ago.

The Twitter exchange on Tuesday morning began when Woods posted an invitation to "followers": "Heading off to Torrey today, thought i'd answer a few questions".

Woods advised a pre-teen prodigy's father to have his son improve every year and plugged Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters, being on his new videogame, saying, "Incredible to have one of the most historic courses on planet in the game."

Poulter, an avid tweeter, took notice of the Woods offer and tweeted Westwood "What shall we ask him" then posted to Woods "come on tiger when are you going to join the lads for some banter".

After viewing a few answers, Poulter tweeted Westwood that he was dubious Woods was the man writing the tweets, teasing Woods by referring to the fact he had fallen to third in the world rankings on Monday, the lowest spot for Woods since he first claimed the top ranking.

"I'm not having it that No3 is writing his own tweets. He doesn't want to play," Poulter tweeted and Westwood quickly agreed.

"Everybody ask tiger to post a picture of himself now so we know it's him doing it," Poulter tweeted, later adding, "Tiger give us a smile, Tiger Tiger give us a smile. Tiger give us a smile. Come on. shall we sing a song for you."

Poulter then posted a picture of himself, taunting, "see it's easy take a picture and post it straight away. I'm having a cupa right now."

Westwood chimed in to Woods with a taunt of his own.

"Is it true you've dyed your hair Ginger,signed a deal with IJP (Ian James Poulter) clothing and bought a White Ferrari cos your (sic) in awe of Poults?" he said, using Poulter's nickname.

Woods, meanwhile, was responding to more mainstream fare, such as who was his choice to win the Super Bowl. The Stanford University alumnus went against the alum of rival California, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodger.

"I'm picking the Steelers, can't pull for Rodgers he's a CAL guy," Woods tweeted.

Woods also replied when asked about comedian Dave Chappelle's portrayal of Woods in a comedy sketch seven years ago when "Woods" was selected by "blacks" with the top selection in a "Racial Draft" of multi-ethnicity celebrities.

"At least I was #1 pick back then, fo' shizzle," Woods tweeted.

Asked to choose between late rap stars Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, Woods replied, "Tupac" then signed off.

His next public words are set to come at a Wednesday news conference.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 01/27/2011 page23)