One week after he fell apart in the final round at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, Woods sorted out his swing problems overnight and was precise as ever around Kingston Heath. He saved par with a 10-foot putt on the ninth, and he reached the 574-yard 12th hole into the wind with a 3-wood for a key birdie.

The only mishap came on the 13th, with a sand wedge in his hand.

“I thought I was in control of the tournament after I made that birdie on 12,” Woods said, “and then a photographer took the control right away from me.”

The photographer, standing unusually close, took two pictures in the middle of his swing, and the ball sailed right of the green. Still fuming on the par-5 14th, he failed to make birdie and left himself open to Chalmers cutting into the lead.

On the next hole, however, Woods hit an 8-iron that had the crowd buzzing during its entire flight, the cheers getting louder as it covered the flag and rolled 6 feet beyond the hole. He made the last birdie he needed.

The result was Woods slipping into a jacket after winning the Masters — this one Australian gold, not Augusta green, but it will do. He finished at 14-under 274 and earned about $250,000 from a purse that was half the size of his appearance fee.

American Jason Dufner, who received an exemption between tournaments in Asia, shot 70 and tied for third with Frenchman Francois Delamontagne (69). James Nitties, part of that three-way tie for the lead going into the last round, shot 73 to finish fifth, while fellow Australian Adam Scott recorded his second straight top 10 finish with a 69 to tie for sixth.

Asked what legacy he would leave behind, Woods smiled and said, “I got a W. That was the goal this week.”

No matter the country, the time zone or the size of the gallery, that’s one thing that doesn’t change.