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Of all the celebrity cricket fans around, former world number one golfer Tiger Woods might be among the most surprising. Cricket normally draws confusion amongst US audiences in a country where even football (or soccer) struggles to draw crowds.
 But a stone’s throw away from the Sheikh Zayed Stadium where England are currently into their second Test against Pakistan, the international golf scene gets underway with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in which Woods, clearly a sports connoisseur, is taking part.
Woods said: "Baseball is huge in Japan and the US, but outside of that cricket is huge. So as I have travelled and I have played all around the world, I have started to watch more and more.”
Woods has spent time with India legend Rahul Dravid amongst his PR commitments, and said getting to know people in the game have furthered his interest and involvement in the sport.
"I have met some of the guys, that certainly helps provide more interest in it. Because now you have personal interest in it, so that's what makes a little bit more exciting."
Woods said in his childhood he played baseball -- similar in some ways to cricket.
"Yeah, you know, because I grow up playing baseball. I was a pitcher myself and my dad was the catcher. My dad played in the negro leagues, professional ball. That type of game certainly has been in my blood.
"And then to travel around the world and see the passion that people have for cricket," said Woods.
He has even been keeping tabs on the current series between England and Pakistan.
"Have I been following the cricket? I have, a little bit. From just what I saw in the news, it’s been -- I think it's been like a batsmen's paradise here," said Woods of the Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch, known for helping batsmen.
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