Tiger savages rivals to title

ST ANDREWS – A relentless Tiger Woods savaged his rivals here Sunday with a crushing victory to take his second Open title at the Home of Golf.

The 29-year-old needed only a two-under 70 to finish five clear of his nearest rival – local hero Colin Montgomerie. The R&A had stretched the Old Course to try and Tiger-proof it – in the end, their tampering only proved the world number one is streets ahead of his pretenders.Woods, who was 14-under for the championship, is now only eight Majors away from tying Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18.Although Woods officially won late Sunday evening, the championship was all but over on Friday night when the American opened with a 66 and 67 to lead after 36 holes.He has never lost a Major when he has led after two rounds.It was a stunning display of controlled golf on Sunday as Woods became only the second player after Nicklaus to win the four Majors at least twice.”It’s a dream come true,” said Woods before going up to hoist the Auld Claret Jug for the second time.”It’s the home of golf.This is as good as it gets.I hit the ball so well today.I’m just so proud.It may have looked like I was running away with the tournament but anything could have happened out there.”Montgomerie refused to be disheartened at coming second.”If someone had told me I was going to finish second in the Open at St Andrews I’d have accepted it before we started,” he confessed.The much anticipated challenge from Woods’s playing partner Jose-Maria Olazabal as well as Brad Faxon, Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen and Michael Campbell, never materialised.-Nampa-AFPThe R&A had stretched the Old Course to try and Tiger-proof it – in the end, their tampering only proved the world number one is streets ahead of his pretenders.Woods, who was 14-under for the championship, is now only eight Majors away from tying Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18.Although Woods officially won late Sunday evening, the championship was all but over on Friday night when the American opened with a 66 and 67 to lead after 36 holes.He has never lost a Major when he has led after two rounds.It was a stunning display of controlled golf on Sunday as Woods became only the second player after Nicklaus to win the four Majors at least twice.”It’s a dream come true,” said Woods before going up to hoist the Auld Claret Jug for the second time.”It’s the home of golf.This is as good as it gets.I hit the ball so well today.I’m just so proud.It may have looked like I was running away with the tournament but anything could have happened out there.”Montgomerie refused to be disheartened at coming second.”If someone had told me I was going to finish second in the Open at St Andrews I’d have accepted it before we started,” he confessed.The much anticipated challenge from Woods’s playing partner Jose-Maria Olazabal as well as Brad Faxon, Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen and Michael Campbell, never materialised.-Nampa-AFP