The Chinese Year of the Tiger officially starts tomorrow - but, for American superstar Tiger Woods, it began on Sunday.

The world's No.1 underpinned his status by coming from eight shots behind to capture the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket and his first European title. The fact that he beat US Open champion Ernie Els in a play-off added to the aura of this phenomenon of the fairways.

It was the 21-year-old's eighth success in his 17-month professional career and he may be the most talented player the game has ever seen. However, will he be the best? Already there are disturbing signs that his place in history may be endangered by his mercurial temperament.

When Woods is on form, unleashing 300-yard drives and holing putts as no player has done before, his world is a beautiful place. He has a smile Colgate would kill for, one that lights up the galleries and the sponsors love.

When he performs like lesser mortals, however, the problems surface. In the earlier rounds at the Blue Canyon course on the island of Phuket, when he was not living up to his own exalted standards, there were the scowls, the club-banging and the muttered curses.

Then, when he defeated Els at the second play-off hole, there was an excessive display of triumphalism. The whoopin, the hollerin and the clenched fist punched repeatedly in the air may have delighted his fans in Thailand where his mother Tilda was born.

His behaviour certainly did not seem to impress Els, who departed the scene with the briefest of congratulations. Flushed with his success, Woods conveniently forgot that he won the tournament by default.

Even he admitted that he thought it would take a 62 in the final round to be in contention instead of his closing 65. Instead Els and others, including Scotland's Andrew Coltart, presented him with the $133,330 winner's cheque. If Coltart had not finished with two double bogies in his opening round, he would have been the victor.

In golf it is just as important to win with style as it is to lose. When did Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson or any other such legends ever behave in such a tasteless manner?

Pressure is enormous on Woods' young shoulders to deliver the dream for a new generation attracted by his enormous talent. Being black heightens those tensions and he now has minders wherever he goes because of the death threats made against him.

However, Woods has been rewarded financially beyond his wildest dreams for having to live under such strain and constant scrutiny. His handlers at IMG know the value of image in negotiating new deals.

Woods credited his father, Earl, for his success in Thailand. He revealed yesterday that he had noticed that his hands were too low in putting, resulting in the ball being pulled left of the hole.

After raising his hands at address, the putts began to drop and the rest is history. This week the pair play together in the AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach. Maybe Woods Sr, a former US military man, should pass on some more advice.

Let us see the the smiling face of the Tiger and then it may be his year. Contrast his attitude to that of Jesper Parnevik, who won the Phoenix Open - his first on the US Tour.

The Swede is no stranger to adversity, having tossed away two Open titles. During those bleak times there was not a trace of temperament, but when victory was in sight he lit up an enormous cigar and waved to the galleries before putting out on the last green with it still in his mouth. The showmanship from the Ryder Cup player added to the occasion.

Now based in South Palm Beach, Florida, his win was all the more remarkable as his two-year-old daughter, Penny, was hospitalised for two days with a viral complaint during the earlier rounds.

Now Parnevik, who qualified for both Ryder Cup sides last year, is convinced further success lies ahead after his triumph over a high-quality field in Arizona. He will now have a few more admirers.