Associated Press

St Andrews, July 18:

For Tiger Woods, there was no time to pause and pose when he reached the top of Swilcan Bridge. A second British Open title awaited. Woods strode swiftly across the stone arch, then removed his cap as he walked up the 18th fairway and onto his 10th major championship, a five-shot win that marked a defiant return to dominance. He never trailed over the final 63 holes and turned in the first wire-to-wire victory at the Open in 32 years. With a strong cast of contenders lined up behind him, Woods played some of his best golf of the week. He was the only player to break par in the final seven groups. He closed with a 2-under 70 for the largest margin of victory at a major in five years, and more indelible links to Nicklaus. Woods and Nicklaus are the only players to win the Grand Slam at least twice, and the only Americans to win the British Open twice. Woods also completed the ‘Nicklaus Slam’ winning all four majors. Thousands of fans squeezed onto balconies and pressed their faces against windows to capture a historic moment. This one remains a work in progress. Colin Montgomerie provided the only serious challenge to Woods. He was only one shot behind after a two-putt birdie on the ninth, and the frenzied, flag-waving Scottish fans tried to will him to an improbable victory.