Masters final-round leaderboard
-13: T Woods (US); -12: D Johnson (US), X Schauffele (US),B Koepka (US); -11: J Day (Aus), W Simpson (US), F Molinari (Ita), TFinau (US); -10: J Rahm (Spa), P Cantlay (US), R Fowler (US).
Selected others: -8: I Poulter; -6: P Mickelson (US); -5: MFitzpatrick (Eng) R McIlroy (NI), J Spieth (US); -2: T Fleetwood (Eng). Full leaderboard
Tiger Woods produced a scintillatingfinish to win a fifth Masters title and end an 11-year wait to claim a 15thmajor.
There were raucous celebrationsaround the 18th green as Woods finished with a two-under-par 70 to win on 13under, one clear of fellow Americans Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele andBrooks Koepka.
Woods, written off by so many sooften as he battled back problems in recent years, punched the air in delight,a wide smile across his face, before celebrating with his children at the backof the green.
“I’m a little hoarse fromyelling,” said the 43-year-old. “I was just trying to plod my wayaround all day then all of a sudden I had the lead.
“Coming up 18 I was just tryingto make a five. When I tapped in I don’t know what I did, I know I screamed.
“To have my kids there, it’scome full circle. My dad was here in 1997 and now I’m the dad with two kidsthere.
“It will be up there with oneof the hardest I’ve had to win because of what has transpired in the lastcouple of years.”
- This was Woods’ first Masters victory since 2005 and he is now just one behind Jack Nicklaus’ record of six wins at Augusta National. The triumph came 10 years, nine months and 29 days after his last major title at the 2008 US Open
- For the first time Woods came from behind in the final round to win a major
- Woods is three behind his Nicklaus’ overall major tally of 18
Victory caps a remarkable resurgencefor Woods, who missed the 2016 and 2017 Masters with back problems beforefinally undergoing back fusion surgery in April of that year.
A superb 2018 followed where hechallenged at The Open before finishing joint sixth and pushed eventualchampion Koepka close at the US PGA Championship.
He then capped off the season bywinning the Tour Championship for his 80th PGA Tour title and this victory putshim on 81, one behind the record of 82 held by Sam Snead.
Overnight leader FrancescoMolinari’s hopes sunk with two double bogeys on the back nine and he had to settle for a share of fifth on 11 under aftera two-over 74.
Ian Poulter’s chances ended after hehit his tee shot into the water on the 12th and he closed with a 73 for a shareof 12th on eight under, three shots ahead of fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrickand NorthernIreland’s Rory McIlroy, who carded rounds of 70 and 71 respectively.
- ‘I doubted I could compete again’ – Woods on stunning win
- Highs and lows of Woods’ remarkable career
- Relive Woods’ stunning victory as it happened
Tiger Woods presented with his fifthMasters Green Jacket
Nostopping Woods’ march to glory
Perhaps the crucial hole in thestory of this year’s Masters was the 12th on the final round, the treacherouspar three where any errant tee shot risks being sucked back into Rae’s Creek.
Molinari, who played with Woods inthe final round as he won The Open last July, dumped his tee shot into thewater at the front of the green and walked off with a double-bogey five.
Tony Finau, also in the final group,followed Molinari in the water to drop back to eight under.
The more experienced Woods, who wasplaying his 22nd Masters, played to the heart of the green and two-putted forpar to join Molinari at the top of the leaderboard on 11 under.
That par was cheered like a birdieby the thousands of patrons who have followed his every stroke this week,alerting more and more to join the party and roar Woods home.
Others were challenging from behindwith Schauffele and world number two Johnson posting four-under-par 68s to setthe clubhouse target at 12 under.
Molinari faded further after hittinghis third shot into the pond guarding the 15th green and from that moment therewas no stopping Woods’ relentless march to the title.
A par on the 17th left the worldnumber 12 with a lead of two shots going up the last – only Koepka, who has wonthree of the past seven majors, could realistically put any pressure on but theAmerican missed an eight-foot birdie putt to stay at 12 under.
Woods appeared to fluff his secondshot to the 18th, leaving it well short of the green, and could only chip on to14 feet, but with a two-shot cushion he could afford to drop a shot and hesealed the win with his second putt.
“I was as patient as I havebeen in years. I kept control of my emotions, shots, placement,” saidWoods.
“To see that leaderboard it wasa who’s who. And it all flipped at 12 when Francesco made a mistake. All thesescenarios started flying around.
“It was an amazing buzz tofigure what was going on while staying present and focused on what I needed todo.”
For Molinari, it was a case of whatmight have been. “I think I made a few new fans with those two doublebogeys,” he said. “It’s great to see Tiger doing well. The way he wasplaying last year, I think we all knew it was coming sooner or later.”
Woods’barren years
Masters 2019: Tiger Woods 2005 v2019 – spot the difference
When Woods won the 2008 US Open, fewpeople imagined it would take another 11 years for the next major to comealong.
But a car crash in November 2009eventually led to admissions of infidelity and the breakdown of his marriageand Woods taking an “indefinite break” from golf.
He returned not long after butfollowing five wins in 2013, Woods started just 24 events in the next fouryears as his chronic back pain took control.
In 2017 Woods was arrested onsuspicion of driving under the influence when he was found asleep at the wheelof his car, later pleading guilty to reckless driving.
He had five prescription drugs inhis system as he recovered from the spinal fusion surgery that has ultimatelygiven him a second golfing career.
‘Iam so inspired’ – global reaction
US President Donald Trump: “Congratulations to Tiger Woods, a truly GreatChampion! Love people who are great under pressure. What a fantastic lifecomeback for a really great guy!”
Former US President Barack Obama: “Congratulations, Tiger! To come back and win theMasters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit, anddetermination.
Twenty-three-time Grand Slam winningtennis player Serena Williams: “Iam literally in tears watching Tiger Woods this is greatness like no other.Knowing all you have been through physically to come back and do what you justdid today? Wow. Congrats a million times! I am so inspired thank youbuddy.”
Three-time NBA champion Steph Curry: “Greatest comeback story in sports! Congrats TigerWoods. Let me hold one of those 5 jackets one time!”
‘Whatan extraordinary story’ – golfing reaction
Three-time major winner PadraigHarrington: “There is not a golfer in theworld that isn’t happy that Tiger Woods won. In the modern era, he’s been agolf and sport superstar. This comeback story will break out from golf into allsports and all the news. It will be everywhere. There will be people who havenever looked at golf and will be seeing this and wondering what it’s allabout.”
Former Ryder Cup captain PaulAzinger: “I never thought I’d see it. Ithought he was done. He whispered to a champion at the Champions Dinner oncethat he was done. Since the fused back he has been a living, breathing, walkingmiracle. To perform at this level, it’s something you behold.”
BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter: “What an extraordinary story and what scenes atAugusta. The hug with his mother, his son is leaping into his arms, the chantsof Tiger everywhere. It is all about this man who dominated golf. I have neverseen him celebrate like that.”
Five-time major winner PhilMickelson: “What a great moment for thegame of golf. I’m so impressed by Tiger Woods’ incredible performance, and I’mso happy for him to capture another Green Jacket. Truly a special day that willgo down in history. Congratulations, Tiger!”
Eighteen-time major winner JackNicklaus: “A big ‘well done’ from me toTiger Woods! I am so happy for him and for the game of golf. This is justfantastic.”
Woods’career in numbers
Tiger Woods’ incredible chip in 2005voted your greatest Masters shot
3,954 – days since victory over Rocco Mediate in a US Openplay-off at Torrey Pines.
1,199 – Woods’ ranking in the world in November 2017. Victory atAugusta National means he will be sixth in Monday’s updated standings.
683 – weeks he has spent at world number one during his career,a record.
281 – consecutive weeks spent as the world’s best golfer, whichis also a record.
48– His score for nine holes at the age of three on the Navy golf course in LosAlamitos.
15– career major wins, second only to Jack Nicklaus’ 18.
14– years between Woods’ fourth and fifth victories in the Masters.
5– Woods is one of five players to have won all four major titles.
4 –number of back operations since March 2014.
1 – Woods is the only player to hold all four major titles at the same time, winning the US Open, Open Championship and US PGA in 2000 and the 2001 Masters
By Peter Scrivener, BBC Sport atAugusta National
