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| |  Monday, 9 April, 2001, 00:08 GMT 01:08 UK Countdown to Masters triumph Tiger Woods judged his Masters challenge to perfection BBC Sport Online charts Tiger Woods' relentless march to Masters victory, from first-day frustration to Green Jacket joy. Thursday The first round at the Augusta National course was a strangely muted affair. The galleries had arrived anticipating the Tiger Woods show.
Woods found trouble off the tee and carded a bogey - his start seemed to deflate the crowds lining the course. A steady round saw Woods recover to two-under for the day and it was instead left to a 32-year-old rookie to take the plaudits. Chris DiMarco fired eight birdies in a sensational round of 65.
The New Yorker topped an unusual looking leaderboard by one shot from Steve Stricker and Angel Cabrera. The only "big name" towards the head of the field was world number two, Phil Mickelson, who made a steady start with 67. Friday Despite the contrary expectations that DiMarco would falter, he defied the pundits and maintained his rich vein of form to stay on top of the leaderboard. A round of 69 earned DiMarco a two shot cushion over the chasing pack. However that was led by the ominous threat of Woods and Mickelson who were tied for second on eight under. Woods went round in 66 as did David Duval, Mark Calcavecchia and Toshi Izawa who all moved into contention.
Double winner of the Green Jacket, Jose Maria Olazabal, ended the day leading Europe's challenge. However other players from across the Atlantic endured a torrid day in Georgia. Colin Montgomerie, Thomas Bjorn, Sergio Garcia and Ian Woosnam all missed the cut, as did Australia's Greg Norman. Norman carded a disastrous 82 - the highest score of the day. Saturday Woods finally made his move.
DiMarco, Mickelson and Cabrera all topped an ever-changing leaderboard before Woods rolled in a hat-trick of birdies on the back nine. Woods maintained his composure as the fortunes of those around him fluctuated through the 18 holes. Cabrera found water at the 15th, and Mickelson three putted at the 8th and 14th holes and Woods took top spot after 50 holes of golf. But the most dramatic move of the day was Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke - both up and down the leaderboard. Five birdies saw the Ulsterman climb through the field before his round was undone by a brace of double bogeys in the final three holes.
And Calcavecchia put together another impressive round in which he did not drop a shot. But for a near miss on the last green the rejuvenated former Open winner would have joined Mickelson a shot behind Woods. Sunday An air of excited expectation surrounded Augusta, and the principal characters on the course duly produced golf worthy of the occasion. Woods dropped a shot at the first hole to give his opponents the hint of an opportunity but the only players to take up the challenge were Duval and Mickelson. Duval also bogeyed the first before reeling off five birdies in six holes to climb to the top of the leaderboard with Woods. The pair traded blows at the head of the field as the tournament built to a tense climax. Mickelson clung on to their coat-tails but never quite gained the momentum to challenge his compatriots. And a missed birdie opportunity at the final hole saw the left-hander fail to become the first player to shoot four rounds in the 60s at Augusta by only one shot. But by then the story of the Masters had been concluded.
Moments earlier, Woods, needing a four on the final hole to secure his fourth successive Major, had carded a birdie for overall victory from Duval by two shots. A round of 68 saw Woods win his second Green Jacket, his fourth successive Major and earn a place at the top of a pantheon of golfing greats. | |   
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