Is Tiger back? Woods wins his first title since 2009

GOLFER Tiger Woods won his first title in over two years as he beat Zach Johnson to claim the Chevron World Challenge at Thousand Oaks in California on Sunday afternoon. It's far from the most prestigious tournament in professional golf but the victory is Wood's first silverware in 749 days – since he won the 2009 Australian Masters.

Shortly after that triumph Down Under in November 2009, Wood's private life unravelled as a string of women came forward to reveal they had slept with the then world's greatest golfer. Abandoned by his wife and his sponsors, Woods' form also deserted him and he slipped as low as 52nd in the world rankings.

Having spent a barren two years trying to restore his battered reputation his victory at Thousand Oaks could signal that the 35-year-old is beginning to rediscover the touch that won him 14 Majors between 1997 and 2008.

"It feels great," said a clearly delighted Woods, who clinched victory with a pair of impressive birdies on the final two holes. Those two shots ensured he won the 95th title of his career but his first in 26 tournaments, and he said later that it was a strange sensation to be back in the mix.   

"I know it's been a while [since winning], but also for some reason it feels like it hasn't," explained Woods to the LA Times.  "When I was coming down the stretch there I felt so comfortable. When the pressure was on the last two holes, I hit three of the best shots I hit all week."

Johnson, who finished second, four shots ahead of England's Paul Casey, believes that Woods is close to rediscovering his best form. "He's going to have a good year in 2012," said Johnson. "I mean, he's the most experienced and the best player I've ever played with."

Woods record of 14 major tournament victories is four short of the great Jack Nicklaus and while he hasn't won any of the 'big four' since the 2008 US Open, he has earmarked 2012 as the year he will relaunch his bid to become the most successful golfer in the history of the game. "I've pushed pretty hard in recent weeks and my mind and my body are wanting a little bit of a break," admitted Woods. "I want to shut it down for a couple weeks and just kind of unwind, and then start gearing back up for next year." ·