He sank a 16-foot putt for a birdie at the last to win the famous Green Jacket for a second time.

As the ball dropped at the 18th, the crowd at Augusta erupted and an emotional Woods punched the air in delight.

Aged just 25, he can now already claim to be the greatest golfer to have played the game.

But it was a far from routine win for Woods, who was involved in a dramatic three-way tussle with fellow Americans David Duval and Phil Mickelson throughout the final round.

"It's hard to explain how I feel," Woods said after being presented with the champion's Green Jacket by last year's winner Vijay Singh.

Duval knows his chance has gone after missing a putt at 18

"There's just an eerie calmness at the moment. I've succeeded in what I wanted to accomplish, but it hasn't sunk in yet."

Duval and Mickelson pushed Woods virtually all the way in one of the most entertaining final rounds for years.

But both the main challengers squandered chances at crucial times - and Woods was able to take advantage and move clear at the top of the leaderboard.

He carded a fourth round 68 to finish on 16 under par.

Neither Duval nor Mickelson have ever won a Major tournament and ultimately Woods' experience under pressure proved decisive.

Woods takes the acclaim after his historic win

When Duval missed a six-foot birdie putt at the last, it effectively handed Woods the title.

With a one-shot lead going up the last, he just needed to par the 18th to win and complete the Slam.

But he went one better than that as a fine sand-iron set up the birdie chance - and his dependable putter did the rest.

Some of golf's older generation have questioned whether Woods' feat represents a genuine Grand Slam, because the four titles were not won in the same calendar year.

But the man himself refused to be drawn into the controversy.

"I dont think it would be right for me to comment on how significant this is," he said.

"But I'm sure it will go down as one of the top moments in our sport and I'm very proud of my achievements."