TIGER WOODS made a triumphant return to his mother's homeland by winning the $300,000 Asian Classic at the Thai Country Club yesterday.

The American shot a final round 68 for a 20-under-par total of 268, and was embraced on the green by his mother, Kultida, after sinking the final putt. He won $48,450 for his fourth victory in 12 starts since turning professional last August.

The world number 14 played "smart golf" to increase his six-stroke lead to a 10-shot advantage over second-placed Mo Joong-kyung of South Korea, who shot a closing 68.

Mo, the winner of last year's Guam Open, was a further stroke in front of joint third place finishers Jim Rutledge of Canada, who shot a course record 63, Mexico's Carlos Espinosa, with a closing 69, and Taiwan's Chang Tse-peng, the cousin of tennis star Michael Chang, who hit a final 71.

Woods said he was pleased to have won a title in a country he regards as his second home.

"It really touches my heart to have won in Thailand. It is a great feeling. I think just winning is a great feeling, but doing something like this in a place I feel at home and the way I did it is special.

"I have not done this since junior school and college golf. My swing was not quite there today. It was a little loose. When I went on the golf course I knew it was going to be a tough day. I hit some bad shots but made the key putts to keep the round going. That is what wins golf tournaments.

"I played very smart golf today. I hit some bad shots but I did not make any mental mistakes."

Rutledge, a former European Tour player who won the Asian PGA's Omega Tour qualifying school competition in January, took some of the limelight from Woods by lowering the course record the American shot on Friday by a stroke.

Rutledge (37), had an amazing birdie, birdie, birdie, eagle start and added another two birdies at the seventh and eighth to reach the turn in seven-under-par 29.

He started back birdie, birdie, birdie, but dropped a shot at the 13th where he drove into the rough. His other birdie was the 16th.

"That's one of the best rounds of my life," said Rutledge, the winner of the 1995 Indian Open. "I lay in bed last night and told myself that although nobody would catch Tiger (Woods) I had a chance of a top five finish if I could get four or five under in the first nine.

"I putted the best I have done for a long, long time. I only had 23 putts, including a 70-footer at the third for birdie."

Woods was due to receive a Royal award from the prime minister at a reception in Government House and later fly to Melbourne to compete in next week's Australian Masters.

His arrival in Bangkok received live television coverage and dozens of excited fans greeted their "native son" at the airport.