Tiger Woods paid more taxes last year than anyone else in the prosperous southern Chinese city of Shenzhen - and all for two days' work.

Woods shelled out 4.2 million yuan ($506,000) tax on the fee he received for taking part in an exhibition tournament last November in Shenzhen, according to a local tax official.

"I can confirm he was the single biggest tax payer in Shenzhen last year," the official said.

Reports at the time said Woods was paid an estimated $2 million for swinging his way through two rounds at Mission Hills golf club.

Organisers of the event, just across the border from Hong Kong, recouped the fat fee by charging $256 for two-day passes to see Woods, whose mother is Thai and who enjoys a massive following in Asia.

But however hefty the tax bill, it was a drop in the ocean for Woods. He had already won more than $9 million in prize-money alone during 2001 by the time he arrived in Shenzhen, not counting his phenomenal commercial endorsements.

Australia's Karrie Webb bounced back from last week's play-off loss to Swede Annika Sorenstam to grab the first-round lead in the Australian Open at Yarra Yarra in Melbourne.

She overcame drizzly conditions to shoot a four-under-par 68 and lead by a stroke.