Tiger Woods wins Australian Masters

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.
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.