The three Aussies – Jason Day, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith – who each completed in the Tour Championship have singled out Tiger Woods for special praise after the superstar American golfer ended a more than five-year winless drought to capture a remarkable 80th PGA Tour victory.

Marc Leishman, who had been grouped with Woods on no less than five occasions this season including the opening two days at Augusta and the first two days of the Northern Trust in New Jersey.

“It is a massive story and world news not only in countries where golf is strong,” said Leishman.

“It is always world news when Tiger plays strong and to win is huge headline news and is the rubber-stamp he’s back to his best.

Marc Leishman and Tiger Woods at this year’s Masters

“But then from what I’ve seen in his company a few times this year, he’s been back to his best these past few months and as we saw in the PGA Championship.

“Tiger’s just improved every time I’ve played with him.

“All week we’ve just been hearing Tiger roars all about course so you could pretty much guess every hole Tiger was playing from the noise.

“It’s just a different sound.”

Former fellow World No. 1 Jason Day

“It’s a great comeback story for probably the best golfer who has ever lived,

“Also, it’s pretty remarkable knowing where he’s come from giving the chipping yips, all the stuff going on off the golf course including four back surgeries.

“So, having overcome all of that and to again win, and win a limited field like the Tour Championship on a very big stage is quite remarkable.

Tiger Woods and Jason Day (Photo – PGA Tour)

“It’s been also- remarkable all week as every time Tiger has made a birdie you hear the crowd roar and we’ve turned to each other saying:  ‘That’s another Tiger birdie’

“The thing is that Tiger’s won and like he was winning at the very height of his career, as the guys out here on Tour nowadays are not afraid of Tiger so that then makes this win all that more special.

“The great thing is that Tiger’s game is a sharper than it was at the start of the year, and the good thing about Tiger it wasn’t urgent for him to come out at win compared to previous seasons when it all just about winning.

“Tiger declared he needed to be patient and that he felt blessed to just be out here again competing and having that mindset settled, I guess, those early-season nerves he said he was experiencing.”

Cameron Smith 

“Tiger winning now an 80th PGA Tour victory has to be one of the biggest sports stories of the year. It is definitely the biggest golf story of the year.

“It is just pretty amazing what he has managed to accomplish this year and it’s pretty awesome.”