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Swing changes pay off for Tiger Woods
Open champion Tiger Woods says his decision to revamp his swing has made him a more formidable player and he is convinced even better years are ahead.
After two surprise winners of the title, normal service was resumed at the Old Course on Sunday when world number one Woods cruised to a five-shot win over Briton Colin Montgomerie.
It took the American's major tally to 10, third in the all-time list, and he becomes only the second player after Jack Nicklaus to win each of the grand slam events at least twice.
"That was pretty sweet," he told a news conference after finishing at 14 under par with a closing 70.
"I've been criticised for years now. Why should I change my game? This is why. First, second and first in the last three majors, that's why."
Woods claimed his fourth U.S. Masters in April after a playoff and finished runner-up by two strokes to New Zealander Michael Campbell in the U.S. Open.
"That's why I bust my butt so hard at home -- to get to this point."
Victory in the fourth and final major of the year, the PGA Championship at Baltusrol in August would complete his best return since he won three in 2000.
Woods, who had gone two years without a major victory before his 2005 Masters triumph, gives much credit to coach Hank Haney who has helped him find new shots for his repertoire and also some which can be relied upon when the tension is at its highest.
For most of the 46,000 who teemed into St Andrews for Sunday's finale, the changes in his game were hardly noticeable.
He simply looked the same unbeatable, mentally rock-solid Woods who last won here by a record eight strokes in 2000.
"It may have looked like I ran away from this tournament but anything could have happened around the loop between seven and 12," he said.
Woods said the turning point was a birdie on the 12th after Montgomerie, who at one stage was within one of his lead, had bogeyed the 11th and 13th.
"I much prefer to win this way. It's much less stressful."
Woods is convinced he can only get better and scoffs at any suggestion he will become complacent.
"It's a never-ending struggle. That's the fun of it, no matter how hard you play you can always play better which makes it exciting for the next day."
Haney, his coach of 18 months, told reporters that Woods's work-rate continued to amaze him. "Every day he just wants to get out there and improve and try new things," he said.
"He's incredible."
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