MELBOURNE: Tiger Woods recovered from an indifferent weekend to rediscover his usual poise and swagger to sweep to a two-stroke victory in the Australian Masters at Kingston Heath here on Sunday.

The world’s best golfer seized the outright lead from the opening hole of the final round and cruised home with five birdies to claim his 93rd career title.

The 14-time major winner put behind the uncertainties of Saturday’s even-par third round, when he was hauled back to a three-way share of the lead, to control the final 18 holes and achieve a personal goal of winning in Australia.

Woods, making his first trip Down Under in 11 years, proudly declared a fulfilled ambition to win on every continent — with one exception.

‘I have never won down here, so now I’ve won on every continent, which is nice, except for Antarctica,’ Woods said.

He jokingly added: ‘I haven’t played in the Antarctic four-play yet, but to have won on every continent is something I’ve wanted to do and now I’ve done it.’

Woods justified his reported three-million-dollar fee by attracting unprecedented 100,000 crowds over the four days and was tracked by huge galleries as he claimed victory in the European Tour co-sanctioned tournament with a closing round of four-under 68.

He finished the 72 holes at 14-under 274 and beat Australian Greg Chalmers (68-69-69-70) on 12-under 276 with Frenchman Francois Delamontagne (71-70-68-69) and American Jason Dufner (70-67-71-70) joint third on 10-under 278.

It was his seventh title of the year and he became the third American to claim the Australian Masters’ golden jacket following wins by Gene Littler (1980) and Mark O’Meara (1986).

‘I just played very consistently today,’ Woods said. ‘I wasn’t trying to be overly aggressive, I was just trying to plot my way along and make birdies when I had the opportunity.’

‘I hit some really good iron shots and that was the whole key to the day. I didn’t have a lot of long putts to make.’

‘For the week I made just four bogeys (and 18 birdies), I think that’s pretty good.’

For the thorough technician he is, part of the attraction of returning to Australia for the first time since the 1998 President’s Cup was playing on one of Melbourne’s famed sandbelt golf courses.

‘All the guys have raved about this golf course and I understand why,’ he said.

‘I really enjoy playing on sandbelt courses because it brings back shot-making and we don’t see enough of that.

‘All the guys who have come down here have always enjoyed it. This is a kind of golf that we don’t get a chance to play.’

Woods played some super shots in the final round.

He hit a seven-iron from 150 metres to within four feet for birdie at the fifth and at the next he drilled a sand wedge 82 metres to within two feet to huge roars for another birdie.

He crunched a three-wood to set up a 15-feet eagle chance at the 12th, which he missed for birdie, and a glorious six-iron which flew 180m straight at the flag stick at the 16th, only to miss birdie.

The Australian fans, who numbered around 25,000 each day, lapped up the Tiger experience and officials are making every attempt to lure him back next year.

‘I would certainly love to come back,’ Woods said.

‘I haven’t looked at next year’s tournament schedule yet, I will do that next month and get an idea of what I need to do for the entire year and I’ll come up with a game plan.’

Woods will have a couple of weeks off before playing in his last event of the year at the Chevron World Challenge at Thousand Oaks, California, from December 3-6. —AFP