Destiny's child has his dream fulfilled

Destiny's child answered the call at Augusta National last evening, and took his place in history. Tiger Woods, as a ten-year-old, used to stay out to practice in the dark and dream of winning the Grand Slam.

Technically this may not count as the real thing, but Woods's victory in the US Masters - for his second green jacket - ensured he became the first player ever to hold all four professional majors at the same time.

Call it what you will, a new configuration of the Grand Slam, or even the "Tiger Slam", but his feat in winning his fourth straight major, and his sixth in all, has signalled Woods out as the greatest golfer in modern times.

A final round 68 for 16under-par 272, having held off the concerted challenges of David Duval and Phil Mickelson in an absorbing battle, was sufficient to give Woods an emotional win, by two shots from Duval.

Before the final round, Mark Calcavecchia made the observation that "Tiger is only a human being, like the rest of us." In golfing terms, he is a super being. Although he dropped a shot at the opening hole to show some degree of frailty, Woods - playing in the final pairing with Mickelson - refuted all-comers to ultimately stake his claim to be the greatest living sportsman.

"It's very difficult to win any of these major tournaments, and to have your game in the right place at the right time is an astonishing achievement. This is an accomplishment for Tiger that I'm not sure you can quite compare to anything else," said Duval.

All through the championship, Woods had first crouched, then pounced on Saturday to take the 54-hole lead and, yesterday, in bright Georgian sunshine with no more than a gentle wind that swirled around the course, he devoured the field with a display that, not for the first time, belied his 25 years. In his five previous major wins, Woods had led going into the final round and, so, 231 days after his last major win, in the US PGA, he maintained that dominance. What made this win arguably more impressive than any other, is that he fended off Mickelson, the world number two, and Duval, his predecessor as world number one, down the straight.

"To go toe-to-toe with David and Phil and win is great. I was grinding so hard out there, had to make some big putts to keep myself in the ball-game. As a kid I dreamt of competing against the best players in the world and winning majors, and I think this is the biggest accomplishment I have made," said Woods.

It was an intriguing contest, fit for any amphitheatre. That it should be played out on a course steeped in history was fitting to match Woods's achievement, something that had evaded legendary figures like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

But he had to do it the hard way, as, after some early shaping from the likes of Angel Cabrera and Mark Calcavecchia, the tournament developed into a three-way fight between Woods, Duval and Mickelson.

The roars from the crowd that accompanied one putt after another from Duval, two groups ahead, kept Woods focused on the task ahead. Indeed, Duval, who had started the day three shots adrift, had an amazing front nine that featured just one par (at the ninth) as he jumped right into contention. Duval reached the turn in 32 strokes and, in some contrast, Woods was still level par for the day after six holes. However, back-to-back birdies at the seventh and eighth moved Woods into the lead on his own at 14-under, although a Duval birdie a matter of minutes later on the 10th meant they were again tied. All this time, Mickelson was searching for inspiration that just never came.

With one eye on Mickelson, and an ear on what was happening to Duval ahead, Woods made a clutch putt for par at the 10th, picked up a birdie at the 11th but then watched as his tee-shot at the 12th finished in the bunker. "I played safe, because if I got it any way wrong it was in the water," said Woods, who failed to get down for a par. It was to be his last bogey of the championship.

While Duval's approach to the 13th finished in the Creek, but not in the water, and he did well to make a par, Woods reckoned that his tee-shot on that hole some 20 minutes after Duval was "probably the best I hit all day. It's one I've been practising on the range all week, just in case I needed it," said Woods, who birdied.

It was gladitorial warfare from there on in. When Duval birdied the 15th to join Woods on 15-under, but then bogeyed the next, it seemed that Woods would close things out on the 15th.

He didn't. Although he had an eagle putt, he put it three-and-a-half feet past the hole and missed the birdie putt back.

Down the stretch, Duval gave himself birdie opportunities at the 17th and 18th holes . . . but failed to make either. So, when Woods hit his approach to 15 feet on the last, he effectively had two putts to win. He needed only one, and that gave him his place in history.