MICHAEL JORDAN, RIGHT, SMILES AS HE CHATS WITH TIGER WOODS during the pro-am portion of the Wachovia Championship. The two sports icons were paired together for Wednesday's event at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C.

Charlotte, N.C. ? The gallery stood a dozen rows deep and spilled down both sides of the fairway, the kind of scene Tiger Woods is used to seeing on the weekend at a major championship. This was only a pro-am round Wednesday at the Wachovia Championship.

And for once, Woods felt part of the crowd.

This is what happens when two of the most celebrated icons in sports are together on the golf course in a public event for the first time. Woods, owner of 12 majors, gladly shared the stage at Quail Hollow with Michael Jordan, owner of six NBA titles and five MVPs.

“This is great,” Woods said as he waited on the 10th tee. “No one knows I’m here.”

That much was clear when he walked out of the clubhouse toward the practice range and some three dozen people didn’t even realize he was there because their eyes trained on Jordan pulling his car up to the valet.

Jordan is part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, and although he doesn’t spend much time in town, he wanted to play in the pro-am. Woods first played golf with Jordan in 1997 in Chicago. While they often get together on the golf course, his camp asked tournament officials if they could be paired on Wednesday.

“We know a few people,” Woods said with a laugh. “No, the tournament was nice enough to put us together. He’s been like my big brother, so it’s been great to have him be part of my life. We had a great time today. We always have a great time.”

For a pro-am round, it did not lack for entertainment.

Woods and Jordan needle each other endlessly during their private rounds, and they brought the banter to Quail Hollow.

The chatter was endless, and as always, Jordan was doing most of the talking. He was asked after the round how many majors Woods might have won if he had to be paired with Jordan during the final round.

“Not as many,” Jordan said. “I can get in his head.”