AUGUSTA, Ga. – Tiger Woods had been building for the Masters all season, practicing certain shots for Augusta National at other tournaments, knowing he would need some crucial plays.
With that intense concentration, Woods blocked out the hoopla surrounding his quest for his fourth straight major championship. So much so that when his 15-foot putt on No. 18 at Augusta National dropped, clinching a two-stroke victory over David Duval, Woods didn't know how to react at first.
Finally, after looking toward the sky, he buried his face in his cap, holding back tears.
"I was in such a zone, working so hard on every shot," Woods said. "You are focused so hard on each and every shot, you kind of forget everything else. When I didn't have any more shots to play, that's when I started to realize what I had done."
What Woods did was write a new page in golf history. His second Masters title culminated an unprecendented four straight major victories.
But to accomplish the feat, Woods had to hold off two of the world's best players down the stretch, No. 2 Phil Mickelson and No. 8 Duval.
Woods' preparation helped pull him through. Asked afterward how many of the shots he used that he had worked on in secluded areas of driving ranges, Woods said, "All of them."
It's that dedication that separates Woods from his peers. In winning his second green jacket and his third straight tournament and pocketing a winner's check of $1,080,000, Woods has captured six of the 17 majors he has played in since turning pro. Jack Nicklaus also won his second Masters title in his 17th major start in 1966.
"I'm amazed at the fact that I was able to play as well as I was able to play when I needed to," Woods said.
"That's where a lot of the hard work goes into it, the hours that you spend by yourself on the range, the putting green, the chipping green, out on the golf course late in the evening; making yourself work that extra bit because you're probably going to need it."
The pressure built on Woods since he won the PGA Championship, the final major of 2000. Leading up to the Masters, Woods was the center of attention with debate raging on whether or not his fourth straight major should be considered a Grand Slam.
But Woods never let that distract him. Instead, he seemed to thrive on the pressure.
"I didn't look at it like I had a chance to win four successive majors," Woods said. "I think I did that purposely, and I guess subconsciously, to try and make myself feel more at ease."
Woods, entering the final round with a one-stroke lead over Phil Mickelson, had plenty of opportunities to fold during the final 18 holes. His bogey on the first hole put him in a four-way tie at 11 under.
He pulled it together a birdie on 2 but then lost his lead when Duval birdied 8. Every time Duval or Mickelson challenged, Woods responded. And every time he made a mistake, he corrected it, following his two bogeys with birdies at 2 and 13.
"The enjoyment is working for it, grinding it out and going toe-to-toe with two of the best players in the world," Woods said. "That is work, but that is what it's all about. And to have that challenge, that's why we play."
Mickelson stayed close but could not recover from his mistakes. He bogeyed 11 after his drive hit a tree. Then, after climbing back to within one stroke of Woods, Mickelson bogeyed the par-3 16th with a three-putt, missing a six-footer for par.
Duval, playing ahead of Woods and Mickelson, supplied the most pressure. Despite having not played a competitive round in a month because of a wrist injury, Duval vaulted into contention.
He was 4-under through the first nine, But, despite his strong charge during his 5-under 67, Duval also made mistakes. He three-putted the par-5 15th for par, then hit what he thought was the perfect shot on the par-3 16th. But his 7-iron flew the green, then he missed an eight-foot putt for par.
Still, Duval had the chance to tie Woods at 15 under on 18. His eight-foot birdie putt never had a chance because he pulled it, and it stayed below the hole.
"I played very well," Duval said. "I had a few opportunities coming home that I wish I could have capitalized on. I just came up short."
