KEY POINTS:
Tiger Woods ended his 2007 golf campaign at the Target World Challenge yesterday just as it began, with a victory.
He won the Buick Invitational in January in his first start and weathered a few hiccups at Sherwood Country Club in the final round before cruising home by seven shots.
It was the eighth title of the season for the world No 1, who clinched his 13th major at the PGA Championship in August, and capped the best year of his life away from the golf course.
Woods became a father for the first time in June when his Swedish wife Elin gave birth to a daughter Sam Alexis and they were both waiting for him beside the 18th green as he signed off with a four-under-par 68.
"It puts things in perspective real quick," Woods said after winning his fourth title at the elite 16-man event which he hosts. "Even though I had won, I just want to know how she's doing, how she's been all day. I forgot for a moment 'hey, you won a golf tournament'.
"This year on the golf course has been a great year but, off the course, it's been the greatest year I've ever had. As I've said before, it's been a polar 180 of last year."
Woods' father Earl died in May, 2006, after a long battle with cancer.
However, his shadow looms large over the Target World Challenge which he helped create to raise funds for Tiger Woods Foundation projects.
Woods jnr, as has been his custom over the last nine years, donated his winner's cheque for US$1.35 million ($1.74 million) to his foundation.
"The foundation has been a huge winner this week," the 31-year-old American said. "We couldn't have had a better ending to the week and we're looking forward to next year."
Woods was delighted to claim the title by a record seven-shot margin despite struggling with his swing over the last two rounds in his first tournament for 2 1/2 months.
"It was a pretty interesting week," he said. "I shot 62 on Friday, felt pretty good about my game, then yesterday I was just a little off and today I was a little bit more off.
"I just managed my game real well and made some putts this week, which was nice. I wasn't able to hit the ball consistently like I wanted to, but I putted well for all four days and that also makes up for a lot of sins."
Typically, the meticulous Woods continues his search for golfing perfection.
"I've got a lot of room for improvement, which is great fun," he said. "Obviously I hit a lot of good shots this week but I also hit some loose ones. The great thing is my bad ones aren't as bad as they used to be. I'm excited about the things that we've worked on and this week gives me a lot of excitement heading into my practice and getting ready for next year."
After watching Woods return to the winner's circle after a 10-week break, his rivals can hardly be blamed for wondering how the game's leading player can be stopped.
"Doesn't help us, does it?" Briton Colin Montgomerie said after closing with a 66 to share eighth place.
"If he took a bloody year off, it wouldn't help. Never mind 10 weeks."
- REUTERS
