He might not win every tournament he plays,
but in the final round of the British Open overnight, Tiger Woods again showed
why he is the current standard bearer of world golf.

Woods took out his third British Open by two shots from fellow American
Chris DiMarco, with Ernie Els a further three shots back. The
win places Woods’ alongside Walter Hagen with 11 majors, with only Jack
Nicklaus ahead of the pair on 18. It was the 11th time Woods has
entered the
final round of a major ahead of the field, and the 11th time he stepped
off the
18th green as the winner. At 30 years of age, breaking Nicklaus’ record
has
become the bigger picture of Woods’ career. This morning he has three
more
majors than Nicklaus at the same age.

After the death of his father in May, Woods
missed the first cut in a major – the US Open – of his professional career. But
questions about how long it would take for Woods to adjust to life (on the golf
course at least) after the passing of his mentor were answered overnight.

“He’s got an
uncanny ability when somebody gets close to him to just turn it up to another
level,” DiMarco observed,
dispelling any concerns that Woods may take some time to regain his mental
strength.

Yet that same focus and self-control deserted
him immediately after tapping in the winning putt. Woods fell to his knees,
sobbing uncontrollably, the win unleashing a torrent of emotions.

“And then, after the putt, all these emotions just poured out of me. They
have been locked in there. I just miss my dad so much. I wish he could have
been here to witness this. He enjoyed watching me
grind out major wins and this would have brought a smile to his face,” he told
reporters.

Of the Australians, Adam Scott came in equal eighth on nine under. Brett
Rumford, Robert Allenby, and Geoff Ogilvy all finished equal 16th on six under,
Mark Hensby came in equal 22nd at five under, with John Senden and Rod Pampling
on equal 35th at two under.