My swing changes have been vindicated, says Woods

LONDON, Oct 2 (Reuters) The remarkable Tiger Woods made PGA Tour history when he won the WGC-American Express Championship by eight strokes.

Not only did the world number one land his sixth consecutive strokeplay title yesterday, he also became the first player to win at least eight times on the tour in three different seasons (1999, 2000 and 2006).

Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer achieved the feat twice.

Woods is 109-under-par for his six successive strokeplay victories, which include the British Open and US PGA Championship.

The 30-year-old American said his performances this year vindicated the swing changes he made after his brilliant 2000 season when he won three majors and nine times overall.

''I think it's interesting how I was getting ripped for making my swing changes, now here we are,'' Woods told reporters at the Grove course on the outskirts of London.

''That's why I made those changes. It's nice to have the opportunity to do the things I know I can do in this game.'' Woods said there had been a vast improvement in his ball-striking in the last six years.

''My iron game is much better than it was in 2000,'' he said after capturing his 12th individual WGC title. ''I can control the ball better, I am hitting the ball further and I want to improve.

''Golf is a fluid and evolving game and you have always got to keep pushing yourself to get better.'' IMPOSSIBLE DREAM Woods even dared to dream the impossible dream of winning all four majors in one year, saying: ''You've got to have a lot of things go your way but it's still only four.'' Woods said he was more than satisfied with his efforts this season.

''Eight wins on the PGA Tour and one in Dubai, nine wins, that's a good year. Two majors in there, as well, and a couple of World Golf Championships.

''Overall, the things I've been working on the past couple of years are finally starting to come together. It's nice to see the fruits of all the hard labour. '' Australian Adam Scott, who shared second place at the Grove with Briton Ian Poulter, marvelled at Woods's exploits.

''He's phenomenal,'' said the world number four. ''He's dominating the game, six PGA Tour events in a row.

''I've got to start playing in the events he doesn't play in, that's for sure.'' Scott will be pleased to learn that Woods's immediate plans do not include golf.

He has played seven of the last nine weeks and is looking forward to an extended break.

REUTERS PDS VC1915