TIGER WOODS’ niece stepped out of her superstar uncle’s shadow today by winning the biggest tournament of her career at the Australian Ladies Masters.
Cheyenne Woods, who is the daughter of Tiger’s half-brother Earl Dennison Woods, held off a strong challenge by Australian amateur Minjee Lee (278) to card a final-round four-under 69 and complete a 16-under 276 total for victory.
The 23-year-old American, whose grandfather Earl Woods – Tiger’s father – was her first coach, was rock-solid throughout her final round, firing five birdies and just one bogey, and choked back tears during her victory speech.
“This is a huge accomplishment for me,” said the world number 363, adding she hopes her breakthrough will move the conversation beyond merely her surname.
“I’ve been pro for two years and, for the majority of it, people just think of me as Tiger Woods’ niece so now I have a game of my own and I have a title now, a win, which is exciting,” she said.
“It’s nice now to say to people I can play and I’m not just a name.”
The win earned her a two-year exemption into Ladies European Tour events.
