Tiger creeps back into world’s top 50
Tiger creeps back into world’s top 50
after long-awaited return to form in Australia
Tiger Woods is back in the world’s top 50 after finishing third at the Australian Open – but only just.
Woods, who had fallen from top of the rankings just over a year ago to 58th, is now up to 50th, a mere 0.03pts ahead of Retief Goosen.
Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano improves from 126th to 58th thanks to his play-off victory at the Barclays Singapore Open.
Greg Chalmers won the Australian Open after holding his nerve to finish 13 under par at The Lakes in Sydney.
Former world No 1 Woods’ return to form saw him finish two shots behind Chalmers, but after finishing with an impressive 67 he would have been rueing missed opportunities during his third round of 75 on Saturday.
Having made the turn in 32 on the back of four birdies on Sunday, Woods produced bogeys either side of a birdie at the 12th before igniting his round with an eagle at the par-five 14th.
Wearing his trademark Sunday red, the former world No 1 chipped in from just off the fringe to trail Chalmers and Day by a single shot.
He then produced a stunning long-iron approach at the par-five 17th but could only manage a birdie to end his chances of earning his first victory in two years.
Despite failing to win, Woods managed to finish above several big names in a top-class field, including Aussies Jason Day and Adam Scott, Americans Nick Watney, Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson.
