Tiger Woods claims historic win at Masters

Tiger Woods reigned supreme in the golf world on Sunday after conquering his rivals in an extraordinary final-round shootout to win the Masters and hold every one of the sport's major professional titles.

Woods outdueled David Duval and Phil Mickelson in a taut showdown of the highest order to add the Masters to the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship titles he already held for an unprecedented monopoly of golf's most prized trophies.

The 25-year-old Woods sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th green to put an exclamation mark on his triumph as he posted a four-under-par 68 for a 16-under total of 272 at Augusta National Golf Club for his second Masters title.

"To win four in succession, it's hard to believe," said Woods. "You have to have your game, peak at the right time, have some luck, get some breaks.

"To have it happen four straight times, that's nice. Some of the golfing gods are looking down at me the right way."

Woods pumped his fist in exultation and then pulled his cap over his face to hide his tears of joy and relief, while Mickelson finished putting out at 18.

He then hugged his father and his mother who were beaming with pride at the side of the green.

DUVAL STUMBLES

Duval, who fell out of a tie for the lead with Woods with a bogey at the par-3 16th hole, missed short birdie chances at the 17th and 18th holes to finish at five-under 67 for a 274.

Mickelson shot a 70 for a 275 total.

Master rookie Toshi Izawa of Japan shot a final-round 67 to finish tie for fourth with Mark Calcavecchia at 10-under-par.

The victory was worth $1,008,000 to Woods, who emulated the feat of Bobby Jones, co-founder of Augusta National and the Masters who swept the U.S. and British Amateurs and U.S. and British Opens in 1930 in what were considered the major championships of his day.

At the 18th green awards ceremony, Augusta National chairman William "Hootie" Johnson said: "Tiger, I can say we are honored to have you as our champion and you are the greatest."

"To be competing like we did today takes a lot out of you," said Woods, who won his first Masters in 1997 with a record-setting performance.

"To go head-to-head with Phil, with David just ahead was just extraordinary. This is a very special place. It was a lot of fun to be a part of it."

TREMENDOUS BATTLE

Duval and Mickelson, both striving to win their first major title, gave Woods a tremendous battle throughout a day packed with incredible tension, even by the Masters' high standards.

There was a four-way tie for the lead at the start after Woods bogeyed the first and Argentina's Angel Cabrera and 1989 British Open champion Calcavecchia reached the top of the leaderboard with Woods and Mickelson at 11 under par.

Cabrera and Calcavecchia fell back, and Mickelson and Woods jockeyed for the lead, while Duval started a ferocious charge. Duval posted his only par on the front side at the ninth hole after ringing up six birdies and two bogeys to reach 13-under.

Mickelson missed some short putts on four, six and 11 and slipped back, leaving Duval to battle it out with Woods. But he climbed back within one stroke with a birdie at 15 before giving it back with a 16th hole bogey.

A birdie at the 10th put Duval at 14-under, and he jockeyed Woods for the lead as their fortunes ebbed and flowed and the championship hung in the balance.

Woods saved par at the 10th with an eight-foot downhill putt, and then birdied the 11th after sticking his approach shot to the difficult par-4 within three feet.

He dropped a shot at the par-3 12th when his tee shot went over the green and he failed to get up and down after chipping on. A tap-in birdie at the par-5 13th thrust Woods back into the lead at 15-under, but Duval tied him with a brilliant birdie at 15.

FINAL TURNING POINT

The last turning point came as Duval played 16 and Woods set out at the 15th.

Duval and Woods were tied for the lead when Duval played the 16th, where he hit his tee shot over the green at the 170-yard hole. He chipped out to within eight feet but his par-putt slid by the left side and he took bogey.

Woods, meanwhile, dodged potential danger when he was able to stop at the top of his backswing on the 15th tee when he became distracted by a camera going off. He stepped away, composed himself and ripped a drive down the fairway on his way to par and a one-shot lead he never relinquished.

"He seems to do just what is required," Mickelson said of Woods. "When I look back on this week, if I'm going to win with Tiger in the field, I cannot make the mistakes that I've been making."

"The first thing I want to do is congratulate Tiger," said Duval, who suffered his third stinging Masters disappointment.

"He's a friend of mine and to shoot a 68 under this pressure is outstanding."

No one could deny the magnificence of the latest Woods triumph and the magnitude of his achievement in holding all four major titles at once.

At the Butler Cabin, where the champion's green jacket was draped over Woods's shoulders by 2000 winner Vijay Singh, Woods sidestepped the question of whether his sweep should be considered a grand slam, given that it wasn't accomplished in a single season.

"It probably will go down as one of the top moments in our sport," Woods said. "I'm very proud of what I have accomplished at my age."