Tiger Woods Wins 4th Masters

Beats Chris DiMarco In Sudden Death Playoff At Augusta

(AP)  Tiger Woods thrust a fist in the air, let out a scream and headed off to hug family and friends huddled around the 18th green at Augusta National.

His wife, mother, caddie, agent.

Yes, order is restored in the world of golf. Woods is a major champion again, and No. 1 in the world, too, making Masters magic instead of swing changes, and back to chasing Jack Nicklaus' record.

But someone important was missing from this fourth Masters victory — the man who steered a toddler to set of a golf clubs, molded his swing, toyed with his mind, instilled a love for the game.

As Woods collected another green jacket, he couldn't help but think of his dad. And that's when Tiger, all grown up now, did something unusual Sunday.

He cried.

"I want to dedicate this to my father," Woods said, his eyes filling with tears. "I could feel him out there with me on the course."

Earl Woods, who has suffered from cancer and heart problems, didn't feel well enough to leave his hotel room. But he surely was watching on television, and surely proud of what he saw.

After surging to the lead with seven straight birdies in the weather-delayed third round, and after finishing up on the dew-covered grass of morning, Woods pulled off a shot for the ages in the fading sunlight of afternoon.

Then, he made the most important stroke of all: a 15-foot birdie on the first playoff hole to beat gritty Chris DiMarco.

Woods was clinging to a one-stroke lead and on the ropes when his tee shot at the par-3 16th hole sailed long. DiMarco was safely on the green and facing a 15-footer for birdie.

Woods played his chip up the slope and watched it trickle toward the flag. The ball dipped slightly to the right, wobbled back to the left and stopped at the edge. Hanging there for two full seconds before finally toppling into the cup.

Sarazen's double eagle, meet Woods' improbable birdie.

"I would rank that as one of the best ones I've ever hit," Woods said. "It turned things around. It was pretty huge."

DiMarco mumbled "nice shot" toward Woods, then missed his own birdie attempt. The Masters, it seemed, was over.

Not so fast.