Woods cruises to three-shot Masters triumph

Defending champion Tiger Woods won his third U.S. Masters title on Sunday, firing a one-under-par 71 in the final round to finish three shots clear of South Africa's Retief Goosen.

The world number one secured his seventh major title with a 12-under-par 276 total, becoming the third back-to-back winner at Augusta National after Jack Nicklaus in 1966 and Nick Faldo in 1990.

He also became the seventh player to win at least three Masters crown -- joining Nicklaus (six), Arnold Palmer (four) and Jimmy Demaret, Sam Snead, Gary Player and Nick Faldo (three apiece).

Woods, joint leader after three rounds with U.S. Open champion Goosen, could afford to drop two shots over his last eight holes as the expected last-day challenge from his closest rivals failed to materialise.

The 26-year-old collected four birdies, three of them coming in his first six holes, to clinch a sixth major title in his last 10 starts.

"I was surprised (that his closest challengers fell back on the last day) but I still had to be very focused and committed on every shot," Woods said after winning the 66th U.S. Masters on a 7,270-yard layout playing to its full length on the final day.

"This one is special but somehow it seemed harder. I wasn't hitting the ball as precisely as I wanted and I just stayed away from trouble.

"Today was a tough day and Vijay (Singh) and Phil (Mickelson) ahead of me both got off to some good starts.

"The golf course was playing so difficult today with conditions we aren't accustomed to.

"But I made a couple of good putts when I needed them and I was able to outlast the guys today."

FOURTH SHOT

Left-hander Phil Mickelson, who picked up his fourth shot of the round at the long 15th, carded a 71 for third place at eight-under 280 and twice Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal returned a matching 71 for fourth spot a further shot back.

"I didn't feel like it was a struggle and thought I played pretty well today -- just not well enough to win," said Mickelson, who is still looking for his first major title after 36 professional starts.

"But I had a few unfortunate breaks and it seemed when I made birdies, I followed with bogeys."

Vijay Singh, the 2000 winner, was lying second after dropping his third shot of the day at the 440-yard 14th.

But the tall Fijian then twice found the water in front of the green at the par-five 15th on his way to a quadruple-bogey nine, and crashed down the leader board into seventh place at five-under 283 after returning a 76.

Twice U.S. Open champion Ernie Els, who began the day at seven under, effectively ended his own Masters challenge at the par-five 13th.

There he ran up a triple-bogey eight after twice finding water to slip to six under for the tournament and he ended up with a 73 for a share of fifth place at 282 with Ireland's Padraig Harrington (71).

TERRIBLE SWING

"We all tried (to challenge Woods) but I made a terrible swing on 13 which cost me the tournament," Els said afterwards.

"The flag positions were difficult round the turn and you needed a bit of momentum going into those holes.

"I had it (momentum) but I got a bit greedy and it didn't work out for me."

Woods displayed a nerveless touch with his putter and superb judgement of distance with his irons to maintain the pressure on his rivals on the last day.

He picked up shots at the long second and the par-four third before three-putting at the 435-yard fifth for his first bogey of the day after pulling his tee shot under trees to the left of the fairway.

At the short 180-yard sixth, he hit a seven iron over the flag and through the green but coolly chipped the ball back into the hole for his third birdie, returning to 13 under for the tournament.

Out in 34, he dropped another shot at the par-four 11th where he pushed his approach right of the green and was unable to get up and down to save par.

But he hit an easy wedge approach to within two feet of the flag at the par-five 15th to card birdie number four and, despite missing a six-foot putt for par at the 17th, he parred the last to seal his third green jacket.

"It's pretty neat have my name mentioned among the golfing greats," said Woods, when asked how it felt with only Nicklaus and Palmer having won more Masters titles.

"To be able to put my name on that trophy three times is pretty cool."

Woods has now won 23 of the 25 U.S. PGA Tour events in which he has led, or shared the lead, after the third round.

The eventual winner at Augusta has played in the final pairing for the last 12 years in the Masters.