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| |  Monday, 9 April, 2001, 01:14 GMT 02:14 UK Year of the Tiger Woods is extending the bounds of golfing achievement Tiger Woods, the Stanford University graduate, is now a graduate of the school of golfing Grand Slams. In winning his second US Masters title at Augusta, Woods became the first player in the history of the game to hold all four Major championships at the same time. Many argue that to achieve a Grand Slam involves winning the US Masters, Open, US Open and USPGA all in the same year. The world number one's fourth Major has come in a new calender year. But whatever side of the fence the critics sit on, there is no denying that Tiger is the undisputed world champion of golf. BBC Sport Online looks back at what has been a great year for Woods. US Open, Pebble Beach - June 2000 Woods destroyed all Major championship records to win the 100th US Open at Pebble Beach, California.
His nearest challenger and best placed European was Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, who finished on three over along with South Africa's Ernie Els. The American maintained the great lead he had after the third day and then went on to build on his superiority by holing four birdies between the ninth and 14th, as the predominantly American crowd looked on in awe. Not since Henry Cotton in 1934, had a player taken more than a 10-stroke margin into the final day. However the sensational Woods managed to build upon that foundation and banish all asunder to claim his third Major championship. The Open, St Andrews - July 2000 Woods created history by becoming the youngest player to win all four Majors after an eight-stroke victory at the 129th Open Championship.
But bogeys on the 12th, 13th and 16th were followed by disaster on the 17th where he finished with an eight. Throughout, Woods maintained his composure in a near faultless round, and a bogey on the 17th, only his third during the four days, failed to dampen spirits at St Andrews. He ended with a total of 269, 19-under par and in turn recorded the lowest ever score at the course. USPGA Championship, Valhalla - August 2000 Woods wrote a new chapter in golf's history books with his dramatic USPGA play-off victory over Bob May.
After trailing May for much of the final day, Woods produced a birdie blitz during the final five holes to finish tied on 18 under with his little known opponent. He eventually triumphed, to leave May the consolation of second place ahead of Denmark's Thomas Bjorn. Woods joined Ben Hogan as the only player ever to secure three Majors in one season after winning at the Valhalla course in Louisville. He also became the first golfer in 63 years to win back-to-back USPGA Championships. US Masters, Augusta - April 2001 For eight months Woods had been focusing on victory at the US Masters and his opportunity to hold all four Majors simultaneously. His preparation paid dividends, and after four days of composed golf, Woods was acclaimed by many experts as the greatest ever golfer. The 25-year-old's first shot of the tournament missed the fairway and many questioned whether he had the nerve to achieve the feat.
On the final day Phil Mickelson and David Duval pushed him all the way, but as the the holes ebbed away so did their challenge. Needing four on the final hole for a one-shot victory, Woods rolled in a 16-foot birdie putt to seal his Grand Slam in the same style that he showed throughout the year. | |
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