Tiger pounces on final day to score thrilling play-off victory

On the eve of the Year of the Tiger, another remarkable chapter in the Tiger Woods story was etched into Johnnie Walker Classic folklore yesterday.

Written off after three lacklustre rounds at Phuket's Blue Canyon Country Club, Woods, wearing his traditional red 'power' shirt, roared to perhaps the most improbable victory of his fledgeling professional career.

Eight shots off the pace at the start of the final round, Woods compiled a startling closing seven-under-par 65 to leap all the way from joint 18th overnight to the top of the leaderboard on 279.

Thanks to a final-hole birdie, defending champion Ernie Els, who led after each of the first three rounds and for much of the last day, joined him there.

But it was world number one Woods who finally prevailed at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off, where he sent a curling, 20-foot birdie putt into the heart of the cup, prompting the extravagant Woods-type celebration that has already become his trademark.

'It's pure adrenalin and excitement at pulling off a good shot. My body just goes that way,' said Woods, whose victory maintained his 100 per cent record in Thailand, having won the Asian Honda Classic in Bangkok last year.

Even after hitting eight birdie putts in the final round, Woods did not expect to be called back into action later.