Golf superstar Tiger Woods, left, drives a boat off the yacht Privacy, anchored off the luxury resort Sandy Lane in Barbados yesterday. Woods was expected to marry Swedish model Elin Nordegren yesterday afternoon. (Photo: AP)

SANDY LANE BEACH, Barbados (AP) - Tiger Woods went scuba diving yesterday off a yacht reported to hold Swedish fiancee Elin Nordegren and guests while Barbados' ritziest resort prepared white-netted pagodas for a celebration on the lawn overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

The 28 year-old golfer was said to be importing 500 red roses, but did not respond to rumours he was to marry yesterday afternoon.

Nordegren was aboard the yacht "Privacy" at anchor off the Sandy Lane Hotel and Golf Club, with guests reported to include Oprah Winfrey.

Nordegren's mother, Barbro Holmberg - who is Sweden's migration minister - is away from the country until Monday and her spokesman said he doesn't know where she is. Nordegren's sister Josefin - an identical twin - also could not be reached for comment.

The only helicopter charter company on the island said it was booked Tuesday amid reports that wedding organisers planned to take aerial shots of the ceremony - and prevent any journalists from overflying the event. The resort where Woods was staying also was booked out.

Woods went scuba diving early Tuesday, hours before what many say will be a sunset wedding.

An AP photographer saw Woods carrying scuba equipment onto a small boat tied to the yacht. The boat, with at least three other men aboard, had minor engine trouble before it took off with a smiling Woods stretching one arm into the sea. A shirtless Woods then took a turn at the wheel.

His 24 year-old fiancee was nowhere to be seen - consistent with the tradition of the bride being separated from her groom before the wedding.

The idyllic island has been bristling with rumours of an imminent wedding since the weekend with news photographers and reporters attempting to sneak into the resort, which is guarded by Barbadian police officers and private security guards with a Barbados Coast Guard cutter offshore.

Sandy Lane employees were busily preparing for a celebration, setting up tables and chairs under white-netted pagodas on the lawn of the Green Monkey golf course clubhouse, where one source said Woods is scheduled to marry Nordegren later in the afternoon.

The hillside location overlooks the ocean and is said to have spectacular sunsets.

Most in the former British colony have followed an inherited English tradition of discretion, protecting the privacy of their famous guest. Few would give details, and none would be quoted by name.

Oprah Winfrey and former NBA star Charles Barkley were on the list of guests attending the ceremony, one source said.
Nordegren met Woods three years ago at the British Open, when she was working as a nanny for Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik.

Woods asked Nordegren to marry him last December during a sunset walk at a game reserve in South Africa, where he was playing in the President's Cup.

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