Woods: I peaked for Augusta

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Tiger Woods was presented with his fifth Masters green jacket by former champion Patrick Reed and he claimed he was lost for words.

Tiger Woods insisted he never doubted his ability to end his long wait for a 15th major title, which arrived in stunning style as he claimed a one-shot win at The Masters.

Woods held his nerve down the stretch and pounced on crucial errors from long-time leader Francesco Molinari in Sunday’s final group, storming to the top of the leaderboard with three birdies in four holes from the 13th and sealing victory with a comfortable one-foot tap-in for bogey.

Woods celebrates after winning his fifth Masters – 14 years after his fourth

The 43-year-old’s emotions ran riot on the 18th green as he exploded into frenzied celebrations with his caddie, his children and his support team before he signed for a closing two-under 70 which confirmed a winning score of 13 under par.

Woods had not tasted success at his beloved Augusta National since winning a fourth Green Jacket 14 years ago, and he defied the critics who suggested he would never add to his tally of 14 major championships having endured a wait of over 10-and-a-half years for No 15.

WATCH: How Woods won the Masters

Highlights of the best shots and key moments of the final day at Augusta National

As he struggled to comprehend the magnitude of his historic Masters triumph, and its likely impact on golf interest levels worldwide, Woods admitted his form in last year’s majors followed by his first PGA Tour win for five years at the Tour Championship gave him renewed belief heading into this week.

“That win at East Lake was a big confidence‑booster for me because I had come close last year a couple times, which still have to get it across the finish line, and I didn’t quite do it,” said Woods, who will rise to sixth when the world rankings are updated on Monday.

Three birdies in four holes lifted Woods two clear with two to play

“I didn’t do it at Tampa, I didn’t do it at The Open Championship, I was a little better at the PGA, but still I didn’t win. So East Lake was a big step for me, confirming that I could still win out here and against the best players.

“The Tour Championship is obviously the hottest 30 guys for the year, so to be able to do that against Rory and Rosey there gave me a lot of confidence going into this year. I said, ‘you know, just keep building on it and let’s try to get the mind and body peaking towards Augusta’.

Wonderful Woods wins Masters

Tiger Woods stormed to a blockbusting Masters victory on one of the most dramatic, and earliest, finishes in Augusta National history.

“So my last three major championships have been pretty good, so that in itself gives me a lot of confidence going down the road, and I had a pretty good feeling going into this week that I was going to be able to contend in this event. I really felt that I was starting to shape the golf ball, and my putting was starting to come around.

“My short game’s been there. I know that I made a few mistakes the last couple tournaments, but it just felt like it was there. My hands were good.

“And I just kept telling myself to miss the ball in the correct spots, and I did, time and time again. I was very disciplined in what I was doing out there. Even when guys were shooting 64 on Saturday, I was just kind of going around, just handling my business, work your way up the board and make sure that I keep myself in the event.”

With Molinari finding water at the 12th and 15th holes and making double-bogey at both, Woods seized his chance and made a clutch par putt at 12 before carding birdies at 13, 15 and 16, where he hit one of his sweetest irons of the week to within two feet of the cup.

“There are so many different things that can happen on the back nine on Sunday,” he added. “We all know that, and it played itself out again. There were so many different scenarios that could have happened after 12. It could have gone so many different ways, and I just kept hanging in there until the last couple of holes.

Woods struggled to control his emotions after the winning putt

“The birdies at 15 and 16 gave me a nice little cushion with the last two holes to play, but still, there’s different scenarios that could have happened there, as well. But I was able to handle the heat down the stretch and pull off some of my best shots.

“You know, I felt like I just flushed it coming home, which was a nice feeling. It hasn’t sunk in at all. This is one of those things, it’s going to take a little bit of time.”

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