Woods captures 10th title of 2000

Tiger Woods held off the challenge of Australian Geoff Ogilvy to clinch the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand and claim his 10th victory of an amazing year.

The world number one carded his third straight 65 in the final round at the Alpine Sports and Golf Club to finish 25-under-par for the tournament, three shots clear of Ovilgy, who finished runner-up for the second successive year after a superb closing round 64.

Last year’s winner Michael Campbell finished third on 18-under-par with former Open champion Paul Lawrie tied for fourth with Australian Rodney Pampling on 16 under par.

Woods produced another flawless display to resist first Campbell and then Ogilvy and maintain the three shot lead he held at the start of the day.

Campbell was the first to challenge Woods' superiority with four early birdies helping to close the gap to two shots after seven holes, but the New Zealander’s challenge disappeared at the ninth when he missed the green and failed to get up and down from a tricky lie in the thick rough. Playing partner Woods made birdie from six feet to establish a four-shot lead.

Within a few minutes the lead was up to five shots as Woods birdied the 10th, leaving Ogilvy to take up the challenge. He responded brilliantly, picking up birdies at 10, 11, 13 and 14to close the gap to five shots, but Woods, playing in the group behind, always had a hole in hand and virtually matched the Australian shot-for-shot.

Birdies on the 14th - where his eagle chip stopped millimetres short of the hole - the 16th and the 17th kept him clear to repeat his 1998 triumph in this event.

"I played well," said Woods with typical understatement. "It was a very good day. I went out there with the intention of shooting 65 because if I did Michael Campbell would have to shoot 62 and that is what I did almost exactly to the plan.

"Michael played well early on and made a lot of birdies and then Geoff got into it by playing extremely well and I had to make a couple of birdies.

"It's always special to win in Thailand because it's my mother's home country and part of my culture and heritage. It was great to get such a warm reception and see family and friends out there watching.

"The golf course was playing on the short side because it was so hot - it's not often I have a three-quarter wedge from 150 yards - and all the players took advantage of that.

"Now I have got three more tournaments to go this year and hopefully I can keep it going."

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