Gary Murphy will be heading back to the dreaded Qualifying School after failing to break into the top 120 on the money list after the Australian Masters. While all the attention may have been focused on Tiger Woods, who secured the title in Melbourne, Murphy was battling to retain his card.
Ultimately, a final round of 74 at Kingston Heath was not enough for the Kilkenny man and he would finish the season four places outside all-important 120, an agonising €16,000 behind Seve Benson.
Woods, the joint leader after 54 holes with Australians Greg Chalmers and James Nitties, fired a final round 68 to prevail by two shots from Chalmers (70) in outright second.
Clad in his customary Sunday red, Woods constructed a copybook birdie at the first to signal that Saturday's misadventures, when he carded a frustrating and unsatisfactory 72, were well and truly behind him.
In fine, warm conditions, the 14-time major winner made his move with successive birdies at five and six.
First, he offered his huge gallery the thrills they were craving with a long iron to the pin for a gimme at the fifth for the outright lead, followed by a pitching wedge to inches at the next for a tap-in to extend it.
Woods' most telling shot of the day was at the par-five 12th when he smashed a fairway wood from 280 yards, setting up another birdie for a three-shot break on his rivals.
A furious Woods blamed an over-enthusiastic photographer for his wayward approach which was to cost him a shot at 13 - his one blemish for the round - and a par at the par-five 14th was an opportunity lost.
But when he holed a birdie putt at the 15th, the door was effectively slammed shut on his rivals.
Woods' victory was warmly welcomed by Victorian premier John Brumby whose state government attracted criticism for agreeing to underwrite Woods' massive appearance fee which was double the prize pool for the event.
Adam Bland's 67 was the best of Sunday's rounds while two former Masters champions, Craig Spence, the 1999 winner and Aaron Baddeley (2007) both matched Woods' 68.
Defending title-holder Rod Pampling fired a final-round 73 to finish equal-14th at minus-four overall.
