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Tiger seals 10th major in St Andrews special
BEST BALL-STRIKING "First, second and first in the last three majors, that's why. I'm so excited to have my best ball-striking rounds when I need it the most, to hit the ball that solidly." Leader from day one after opening with a 66, Woods was never headed during the week although his advantage was briefly cut to one on the last day when he bogeyed the par-four 10th after driving into a greenside pot bunker. His playing partner Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain and Briton Colin Montgomerie had been his closest challengers but both fell away soon afterwards. "Looking at that leaderboard anything could have happened... today was one incredible battle," said Woods, adding that he began the day with one of the best warm-up sessions of his life. "I was hitting it so well," he said. "And I wanted to carry it to the golf course, and I did." Twice U.S. Masters champion Olazabal dropped shots on 12, 13, 15 and 17 but birdied the last on his way to a 74 and a tie for third with Fred Couples (68) at eight under. Montgomerie's challenge ended with bogeys on 11, 13 and 16. The 42-year-old Scot returned a 72 to secure second place at nine under, his best Open finish in 16 starts but only his second top-10. It was his fourth runner-up placing at a major, and his first since he placed second in the 1997 U.S. Open at Congressional.
"The last couple of days have been amazing," said Montgomerie, who enjoyed
passionate home support all week in his bid to make a major breakthrough.
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