GOLF:

If anyone on this planet doesn’t know the power Tiger Woods has over an audience it was displayed loudly Saturday at Pelican Hill.

Woods was addressing the 200 or so people as part of the Block Party festivities that raises an approximate $1 million annually for the Tiger Woods Learning Center. The people that were there were about to play golf and had paid a nice chunk of change for the privilege.

The guest of honor arrived in khaki shorts and a windbreaker and headed to the practice facility, bringing Fred Couples and Chris Riley with him.

Though Woods can’t hit a ball because of his left knee, he can swing a club and he certainly can tell a story.

He mesmerized the crowd with anecdotes and tips, including one about putting. He was recalling how his father, Earl, was trying to teach him how to gauge distance when he was just learning the game as a youngster.

Woods told the crowd his father told him to envision a picture and then to just putt to the picture. He then went through his pre-putt routine, describing what goes through his mind before he strokes a putt.

The part-time Corona del Mar resident was relaxed and at ease in this setting. It is something he enjoys doing, especially since the money raised from the golf and the party later that evening went to his learning center.

“Trying to raise more money for kids, that’s the ultimate goal,” Woods said. “We are trying to help kids that’s the bottom line. At the end of the day the more money we raise the more kids we can help.”

So Woods gives up a Saturday when he would rather be back in Florida, playing with his daughter, Sam, and spending time with his wife, Elin, who is expecting the couple’s second child soon.

While Woods has a vested interest in the day, Couples and Riley do not. They are not paid for their time and both got up early on this day to help out Woods with the clinic.

“He is a great guy and I love helping him out,” Riley said. “I am honored he asked me to come out here.”

Couples, who has built as close a friendship with Woods as early mentor Mark O’Meara, is thankful to the world’s No. 1 player.

“I think he’s the greatest guy in the world,” Couples said. “He’s been great for our tour. If he never won another tournament he’d still be the same guy to me. He does a lot for golf and he helps me out quite a bit.”

While Woods was a bit incapacitated and couldn’t hit a golf ball, Couples and Riley took over that task. The two hit shots and explained some of the things that go on in their minds when they are on the golf course.

Of course Woods couldn’t help but needle the two and the clinic really had a mixture of teaching and humor.

The invited guests laughed at the jokes, but also came away with an experience that not very many people get.

“Was it worth the trip?” one of the guests asked another.

“Absolutely,” he replied, smiling from ear to ear.

One youngster who had been brought by his father to see Woods went up to him after the clinic and sheepishly asked for Woods to autograph a picture he had been holding onto throughout the clinic.

Woods happily obliged and the boy ran back to his dad after getting the signature. He held the memento in his arms, the picture pressed up against his chest. He looked at the autograph almost in disbelief and showed it to his dad again.

Another life positively affected by Woods.