MELBOURNE, Australia — Tiger Woods gave the record crowds at the Australian Masters everything they could have wanted with his victory yesterday, except a definitive answer when he would return.

"I promise it won't be as long," Woods said to yet another warm ovation.

Woods took the lead for good with a 7-iron to within 4 feet for birdie on the fifth hole, and he hardly missed a shot the rest of the way for a 4-under 68 and a two-shot win over Australia's Greg Chalmers.

Woods won for the seventh time this year, and the 82nd time worldwide in his career. He now has a trophy from every continent where golf is played. Australia, the 13th country where he has won an individual event, had been the missing link.

"I've never won down here, so now I have won on every continent, except for Antarctica," Woods said. "I haven't played the Antarctica Four-Ball yet. But to have won on every playable continent, it's something I've always wanted to do. And now I've done that."

It had been 11 years since Woods last competed in Australia, at the 1998 Presidents Cup. Since then, he has won 13 majors and 72 times around the world, becoming the face of golf and one of the most famous athletes in the world.

Chalmers, who hasn't won on his native soil since 1998, found consolation in his runner-up finish. It was one of the biggest weeks of golf in Australia, energy not felt since the glory days of Greg Norman.

He stayed within range of Woods on the back nine, but failed to convert a couple of good birdie chances and shot 70.

"It was like a football crowd brought to the golf, and for us as players, I have only experienced that a handful of times, and I've never experienced it in Australia at all," Chalmers said. "That was special. It really was very exciting, and it made you play better. Even though I finished second, I'm thrilled that he's here. I wish he would come every couple of years. I'm sure we all do."

ELSEWHERE

Children's Miracle Network Classic: Stephen Ames won his second title in three years, edging George McNeill and Justin Leonard on the second playoff hole at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Ames shot an 8-under 64 for the clubhouse lead, watching as McNeill (67) and Leonard (67) failed to pass him as each finished at 18-under 270.

Hong Kong Open: France's Gregory Bourdy shot a 3-under 67 for a 19-under 261 total and a two-stroke win over Rory McIlroy (64).

Taiheiyo Masters: Yasuhara Imano stumbled to a 73, but won by two strokes over Han Lee (69) and Kenichi Kuboya (71) at Shizuoka, Japan. Imano shot 13-under 275.