A thrilling, new rivalry was born here at Medinah yesterday, in the last "major" of the century. And the ascendancy was claimed by Tiger Woods, who captured the 81st USPGA Championship with an 11-under-par aggregate of 277, one stroke clear of Spanish teenager Sergio Garcia.

It brought Woods his second major triumph, 28 months after a record victory in the 1997 US Masters. And if such details really matter to already swollen coffers, it carried a cheque for $630,000, while the Spaniard's reward of $378,000 secured playing rights in the US for next season.

But he wanted more. "I almost got Tiger," said Garcia with a typically boyish smile, after becoming the youngest runner-up in the history of this championship. And by way of cementing the rivalry, he added: "I would like to play against him in the Ryder Cup next month, but we will have to wait for that."

For his part, Woods was a gracious winner, rich in praise of the Spaniard. "Sergio and I had a wonderful battle out there," he said. "After playing with him in the Byron Nelson, I knew he was a tremendous competitor, and he proved it. He is to be commended on the way he handled himself."

But Woods went on to highlight difficult aspects of a gripping day which, thankfully, were not racist but, sadly, had nothing to do with golf. "The fans were saying things they shouldn't have," claimed Woods. "Like `$1,000 if you slice it into the water' at the 17th. And there were other things, which I don't think I should repeat."

As it happened, Garcia captured the hearts of the excited galleries, not least for some extraordinary shots that were straight out of the Seve Ballesteros text-book. The 19-year-old was so moved by it all that he dedicated his entire performance to the fans.

"They were amazing," he said. "I have no words to say what they did to me. It was almost like I was American." Indeed defeat seemed to do little to dampen his boyish enthusiasm, judging by the way he waited to embrace Woods as the winner completed his round.

Down the order, European challengers had a decidedly mixed day, though Colin Montgomerie finished with a birdie for a third successive 70 and an aggregate of 282. He then angrily pointed his putter at the fans who had heckled him throughout the round. "Get me out of here," he said later, to no one in particular.

European Ryder Cup skipper Mark James attempted to instil some fire into his troops with a fine 67. But as Lee Westwood slumped to a 75, the only significant response came from Jean Van de Velde.

In his first "major" challenge in the US, Van de Velde had no shortage of vocal support as he fired a final round of 70 for an aggregate of 289 - one over par. Everybody's favourite French golfer, right now, carded successive birdies at the 13th, 14th and 15th - three of the most difficult holes on the course - to cover the last six in three under.

It contrasted sharply with the rather worrying form of Ryder Cup veteran Bernhard Langer, who has now slipped out to 15th in the table. With Garcia in at seventh, Andrew Coltart has dropped from 10th to 11th, while Jesper Parnevik (12th), Padraig Harrington (13th) and James (14th) have moved ahead of Langer.

Fred Couples shot a closing 72 for 289 and denied he had asked not to be considered as one of Ben Crenshaw's wildcard choices on the US team. "I think everyone is hoping for a call," he said. "I never told anyone I didn't want to be on the team and, if I'm picked, I won't have a problem playing."

Meanwhile, two elements of yesterday's battle will remain long in the memory. The first occurred at the short 13th where, after sinking a 20-foot birdie putt, Garcia turned around by way of a challenge to Woods, who was standing on the tee. "I'm sure Tiger recognised me," he said. "It was meant to be good humoured. I just wanted him to know that if he wanted to win, he would have to play well."

Woods, who had come off the 11th green with a five-shot lead over the Spaniard, had seen the lead trimmed by a bogey at the next, which he three-putted. The leader was then shaken to the roots by events of the 219-yard 13th, where his lead shrank to one stroke in a matter of minutes.

Attempting to assert himself, Woods overhit a six-iron into rough behind the green, then chipped too strongly over the front edge and eventually ran up a double-bogey five. From having been totally in control of his destiny, he suddenly looked vulnerable. He knew he had a fight on his hands.

"Yes, I knew it was Sergio," said Woods. "And I expected him to hole that putt on the 13th. You've got to expect these things at this level."

But Woods, in the last pairing with Mike Weir, knew nothing of the Spaniard's piece de resistance three holes later. Medinah has 4,161 trees, and after hitting his drive through the dog-leg at the treacherous 16th, Garcia's ball came to rest between the roots of one rather obtrusive specimen. Facing a second shot of 189 yards, he thought of laying up.

With the audacity of youth, however, he slashed at the ball with an open-faced six-iron, hoping to get the necessary left to right flight. But if the club was open, his eyes were closed and he turned his head way, fearing the ball might rebound off the tree. Then as he scampered after it, even to the point of jumping in the air, as the ball miraculously made the green, giving him a two-putt par.

"I learned a lot from watching Seve," he said with a huge grin. "Nobody can teach you those shots, but seeing Seve, I learned how to do it."

Woods admitted he had been more fearful of the challenge being mounted by Nick Price, twice a former winner of the title. Even when the Zimbabwean slipped back to nine under after bogeys at the 12th and 13th, the leader conceded: "I though Nick would make another run at me."

But it never materialised. And as things transpired, Woods had his hands full in coping with Garcia, particularly when the American, with 186 yards to the elevated 16th green, hit an over-ambitious eight-iron short into the back bunker. From there, however, he recovered to eight feet and sank a superb, left-lip par putt to preserve his slender lead.

It was an amazing day, a day which ended with Garcia earning a Ryder Cup debut and Woods reclaiming his rightful position as world number one.