Helped by a masterful shot on the 16th hole at Augusta National, Tiger Woods won the Masters Tournament with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
Holding off a surging Chris DiMarco, Woods sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th for his fourth green jacket and ninth major championship.
Woods appeared to put the tournament away with an amazing birdie on the par-3 16th. Woods-with a tough shot from the fringe-chipped his shot up the slope and saw it dribble down to the cup where it paused on the edge before dropping in to complete the improbable shot.
\I would rank that as one of the best ones I've ever hit,"" Woods told The Associated Press. ""It turned things around. It was pretty huge.""
But surprisingly, Woods faltered on the final two holes, bogeying both. Woods-who has never lost a major championship with a lead heading into the final round-appeared mortal. On the 72nd hole, Woods pushed his tee shot right, and his second shot found the bunker to the right of the green. After chipping to behind the hole, Woods missed the par putt and tapped in for a bogey.
Woods' troubles opened the door for DiMarco, who almost won the tournament with his chip-in shot on the 72nd hole, but watched it spin off the right side of the cup.
Woods overcame a slow first round to come storming back in the final rounds. He tied a Masters record with seven straight birdies in the third round, giving him a three-shot lead heading into the final round.
Woods tied Arnold Palmer for the second-most Master's championships, trailing only Jack Nicklaus,?? who has won the event six times. With his ninth major championship, Woods is now tied with Ben Hogan and Gary Player for the third-most majors in history. Nicklaus owns the record for most career majors with 18 and Walter Hogan is in second place with 11.
-Compiled from staff reports
