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Tiger Woods celebrates his win - Source: Reuters -
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World No.1 Tiger Woods has clinched the Australian Masters at
Kingston Heath, leading the tournament from start to finish.
The American provided immediate validation for the massive hype and
his $3 million appearance fee when he won his first event on
Australian soil by two shots.
Kiwi Tim Wilkinson's challenge faded, carding a four-over par round
76 to finish in a tie for 17th at three-under.
Woods, who finished 14 under the card on 274 with rounds of
66-68-72-68, defeated West Australian Greg Chalmers, who was
outright second with American Jason Dufner and Frenchman Francois
Delamontagne sharing third at 10 under par.
Australians James Nitties and Chalmers had gone into the final
round sharing the lead with Woods at 10 under the card.
But Woods began his day confidently when he opened with a birdie at
the par five first and by the time he reached the turn in 33 was
three under the card.
He broke out of a tie and seized the outright lead when he sunk to
12 under par with a birdie three at the fifth.
From then on he was able to keep his pursuers at bay and stretched
his break to three shots when he moved to 14 under with a birdie at
the par five 12th.
Woods dropped a shot at the 13th when his approach shot bounced
through the green but he rebounded shortly afterwards when he
picked up a shot at the par three 15th.
Woods collected $270,000 for his victory - less than 10 per cent of
his appearance fee, which was justified by Victorian premier John
Brumby earlier in the day, when he declared the event a resounding
success.
Woods dragged up to 100,000 spectators through the gate as people
paid to watch him play practice rounds as well as compete.
On the final day a crowd of 25,132 squeezed into Kingston Heath to
watch Woods go head-to-head with the two local stars.
