Tiger Woods made a 297-yard drive and then made two short putts for a solid finish during the Verizon Heritage golf tournament.

Well, sort of.

Woods was really just the on-screen avatar of Rose Marie McMahon, a Sea Pines resident who was controlling the famous golfer while trying out the Tiger Woods PGA Tour game for the Nintendo Wii. With Wiimote golf club in hand, she swung back and chipped her ball out of the sand trap in one try -- after a few mishaps accidentally hitting the start button mid-swing.

"I can't do that on a real course," she said.

McMahon was playing on one of two Wiis set up in the Hilton Head Hospital booth at the expo village between the 1st and 9th holes at Harbour Town Golf Links. In addition to getting a crack at the motion-sensitive video game technology, spectators could enter a drawing to win a system after the tournament.

The two Wiis at the event will get a lot more use once the tournament is over. After this weekend, they'll go back to the two area hospitals, where they'll be used for recreational therapy. They could eventually be used for physical therapy and other rehabilitation.

In fact, the medical director of the recreational therapy at Coastal Carolina Medical Center in Hardeeville already requested one even before the hospital made its plans for the Heritage, said Elizabeth Lamkin, president and CEO president of Hilton Head Regional Health Care which includes the two local hospitals.

The blockbuster Nintendo game system is becoming an increasing common sight in hospitals and doctors' offices across the country as therapists turn to the games to help with everything from recreational, physical and occupational therapy, to rehabilitation at nursing homes and military medical centers.

It's even led to a new buzzword: "Wiihab."

"I just think they're phenomenal devices," Lamkin said.

The Wii uses a motion-sensor wireless controller that lets players twist and turn like they're swinging a bat or golf club, swatting a tennis racket, driving a car or boxing an opponent. The technology is being heralded by some health advocates for its ability to get usually stagnant gamers off the couch and moving.

Lamkin said the Wiis will be used at first at Coastal Carolina to help patients with neurological impairments or recovering from strokes because the games can train people to regain their balance, range of motion and hand-eye coordination.

Eventually, the hospitals could incorporate them into its childhood obesity programs, she said.

"Our therapists are thrilled with this kind of game because it's not a sit-and-use-your-fingers kind of game," she said. "I have a feeling we're going to get more requests."

As for McMahon, the Wii golf was fun, but it won't be replacing her regular golf game ... yet.

"I like playing out on the course," she said. "Then when I get too old to do that, I'll buy one."