"Thanks for coming to Australia, Tige." Tiger Woods was probably too focused to distinguish the cries of goodwill in the din of a rapturous ovation as he walked up the 18th fairway at Kingston Heath.
But he understood the sentiment and doffed his cap to the sea of people ringing the 18th green to collect his first Australian Masters title - as one official put it "a great scene for Australian golf.".
As well as the thanks from many of the crowd of 25,132, was a sentiment the Victorian government, for one, would endorse; "Come back mate, come back," yelled one fan.
The American plays a tournament almost every fortnight, but only once in Australia in the past 11 years, and promises a much quicker return next time.
"This has been phenomenal," he said after his two-shot win.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to get back, I promise it won't be as long." While he expressed a desire to return next year, his schedule had to be confirmed.
If not next year, he's a near certainty to play in the President's Cup at Royal Melbourne in 2011.
A self satisfied Victorian premier John Brumby said Woods' visit to Melbourne has been "sensational" and his $A3 million ($NZ3.83 million) appearance fee would be returned well in excess of the originally predicted $A19m to the state's coffers.
Woods said his mother Kultida had played her role in giving some of his fee back to the economy in her few days in Melbourne.
If he was unsure as to who organised his fee, Brumby was there to inspect his investment at close hand as he walked inside the ropes with Woods and playing partner Cameron Percy for a few holes on the back nine.
"Good investment Brums, three million well spent," one fan shouted to Brumby before his mate corrected him with the government's actual contribution "one and a half, mate".
"You've got my vote, " the first mate continued.
And if Woods was in any doubt over the currency of his appearance fee, topped up with a mere $A270,000 first prize, he was greeted with unmistakable Australiana as he walked up the 13th fairway munching on a sandwich.
"Onya Woodsy," one spectator yelled, conferring an unimaginative nickname on the world's No 1 golfer.
"Is that a vegemite sanga?" another asked. Woods' New Zealand caddie Steve Williams almost gestured to offer a trans-Tasman translation.
After a shaky third round reduced him to a three-way share of the lead overnight, Woods spent time in the bunker during his warm up on Sunday. It wasn't necessary.
From the moment he came within centimetres of an eagle on the first hole, it was clear the final round was going to be his.
Patience was tested a few times - twice as Percy had to look for his ball on the fourth and the 14th and once by an accredited photographer at the 13th.
Woods glared toward the five-deep gallery, threw his club to the ground and ripped off his cap after sending his second shot into a valley to the right of the green.
His only bogey for the day took him to 13-under and cut his lead to two shots, but a birdie at the par three 15th secured the title and gave the organisers, the government and most of the 95,000 fans who came to Kingston Heath over the last four days the result they were after.