Threats Made to Event in New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand —  Days before Tiger Woods’ first appearance in New Zealand, police and U.S. Embassy officials said today that the embassy received a letter containing cyanide and threats to disrupt the New Zealand Open.

Assistant Police Commissioner Jon White said the threats were directed at the tournament, rather than Woods individually, but “it was clear the threats had been made because Woods, the world’s No. 1 golfer, was playing.”

White said a “small” amount of cyanide was in the letter mailed in New Zealand and received by the embassy in Wellington in December. Cyanide, which comes in paste or powder form, is a deadly poison used to kill animals and extract gold from ore in mining.