Tiger Wows Down Under En Route to Victory

When it was all said and done, the government of Australia really didn’t mind paying half of Tiger Woods’ $3 million appearance fee at the Australian Masters.  The Aussie government figures it got back approximately $20 million in return, and Woods got yet another victory, his first win Down Under.  The day started with Woods in a three-way tie for the lead, but a scorching start (three birdies on the opening six holes) left Woods’ competitors in his wake.  His brilliant 4-under 68 left him at 14-under for the tournament, two-strokes better than Australian Greg Chalmers.

Tiger Woods (Image: Zuma Press)

A miserable third round for Tiger had him slip backwards into a three-way tie for the lead, but Sunday showed that the world’s No. 1 golfer had fixed what was ailing him.  His only hiccup on the day was a lone bogey on No. 13, but even that can’t be all Tiger’s fault.  An overzealous photog snapped a pair of shots in Woods backswing, which led to the bogey.

But Tiger was able to shake off the bogey on the par 3 15th, with a gorgeous tee shot that stopped within six feet of the flag.  When his birdie putt rolled true, the tournament, for all intents and purposes, was over.