Peter Thomson backs Tiger Woods to defend his Australian Masters title

Golf legend Peter Thomson sees no reason why Tiger Woods, who has suffered a form slump after winning the Australian Masters last year, can't defend his title this year.

Woods has struggled to tame his errant tee shots since his return from a scandal-enforced exile, and he will be defending his title at Victoria Golf Club in November.

Five time British Open champion Thomson believes the World No.1 will be able to adjust his game as he did when he won at Kingston Heath last year.

But he will need to temper his driver around the tight, tree-lined Victoria layout.

Last week, Woods hit spectators with three stray drives in the final round of the Memorial tournament in Ohio, The Courier Mail reports.

The Victorian Government revealed yesterday that it had secured a deal to lure Woods back to Melbourne, at a cost of three million dollars, half of which is to be paid by the taxpayers.

He will be joined by Victorian world No.18 Geoff Ogilvy, 15th-ranked Colombian Camilo Villegas and Spaniard Sergio Garcia, ranked 37.

Thomson believes Woods can still win - or at least be entertaining in the process.

"He'll put on a good show I think - even his wild shots are worth watching. Victoria is similar to Kingston Heath so if he pulled it off there he's likely to pull it off again at Victoria. But I hope that Ogilvy will stop him - and I think Garcia is off the boil," Thomson said.

Thomson said there was no secret to scoring well at Victoria.

The Australian Masters will be played from November 11-14.