Tiger Woods found himself tangled up in US-wide airport protests ahead of his first commercial long-haul flight in near a decade.

In a first for some time, Woods left his luxury private jet at home and elected to first fly from San Deigo, where he had missed the cut in the Farmers Insurance Open, to  L.A and from where he was due to then board an Emirates Airline flight to Dubai.

 However, the 14-time Major winner found himself caught up in U.S.-wide airport protests following President Donald Trump’s recent executive order barring persons from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the United States.

The scene at LAX last Sunday and with Tiger Woods caught-up in the drama.

The protests at LAX Airport meant Woods, his manager and caddy had trouble getting anywhere near the terminal for their Sunday morning flight.

 “We were on the other side of the terminal,” said Woods to good friend and colleague Bob Harig from ESPN.

“You could see our plane but  we just couldn’t get there.”

Woods arrived just 30 minutes for the direct near 17-hour flight was due to take off for the UAE.

Woods landed safely in Dubai and has already warmed to his first visit to the Dubai Desert Classic in six years by donning shorts for a practice round yesterday (Tues).

Tiger Woods on the practice range at the Emirates Club and wearing shorts given it is a European Tour event.

Unlike the PGA Tour, those competing on the European Tour are allowed to wear shorts right up to the first day of competition.

And organisers have grouped Woods with Masters Champion Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick, who captured the 2016 season-ending DP World Tour Championship at the nearby Jumeriah Resort.