SYDNEY - Tiger Woods' squeaky-clean image may have taken a battering since his most recent tournament appearance at the Australian Masters but that has not stopped local officials from inviting him back.

SYDNEY - Tiger Woods' squeaky-clean image may have taken a battering since his most recent tournament appearance at the Australian Masters but that has not stopped local officials from inviting him back.

Woods was paid $3million (R22million) just for playing the Australian Masters in Melbourne in November but local government officials said his appearance provided them with a financial windfall.

Victoria state tourism minister Tim Holding said the American was welcome back any time, despite the revelations about his personal life, after his appearance injected A$34 million (R226million) into the local economy, almost double the initial forecast.

"We have made it clear that Tiger is welcome to come play golf any time in Victoria," Holding said yesterday. "The question of what Tiger Woods does in the future is a matter for him, we respect that and he is always welcome to play here." - Reuters