Another Woods is a winner

Tiger Woods' niece stepped out of her superstar uncle's shadow on Sunday by winning the biggest tournament of her career at the Australian Ladies Masters.

Cheyenne Woods, the daughter of Tiger's half-brother Earl Dennison Woods, held off a strong challenge by Australian amateur Minjee Lee (278) to card a four-under-par 69 in the final round and complete a 16-under 276.

While Woods, 23, won a minor event early in her professional career in the US, Sunday's victory on the Ladies European Tour at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast was easily her most significant so far.

The 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 she choked back tears during her victory speech.

"This is a huge accomplishment for me," said the world No 363.

She also expressed the hope the breakthrough will move the conversation beyond merely her surname.

"I've been a pro for two years and, for the majority of it, people just think of me as Tiger's niece ... so now I have a game of my own and I have a title now, a win, which is exciting.

"It's nice now to say to people that I can play and I'm not just a name. Growing up with the last name of Woods, there's a lot of expectations and pressure and spotlight on you, but I always knew that I was able to win.

"I always knew I'd be able to compete with these ladies so now it's kind of a weight off my shoulders because now everybody knows, not just me."

The win earned Woods a two-year exemption into Ladies European Tour events - and a Twitter shout-out from her famous uncle.

"Way to go Cheyenne Woods!" 14-time major champion Tiger Woods tweeted. "A great win and accomplishment. I'm so proud of you."

A victory in next week's US LPGA-sanctioned Australian Open would also earn Woods exemption into that tour.