From Nashville Tennesseean -
A sentence few thought could ring true again materialized Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club. Tiger Woods has won The Masters.
Woods played like a four-time Masters champion should play like in the final round Sunday, and birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 gave him enough cushion to win at 13-under by a shot over Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele and earn his 15th major championship.
Woods is now three major titles behind Jack Nicklaus (18) on the all-time list.
Woods' tee shot on the par-3 16th hole was an all-timer in the history of the tournament.
With a 9-iron, Woods landed the ball on a slope that feeds right toward the final round hole position. And it fed to within three feet for an easy birdie.
Woods was assisted by mistakes from Francesco Molinari and (to a lesser extent) Koepka. Playing with Woods, Molinari was standing on the No. 12 tee box as the leader at 13-under for the tournament and at even par for the final round. But Molinari's tee shot into the par 3 green fell off the greenside ledge and into the water.
Koepka was playing a group ahead of the final grouping of Woods, Molinari and Finau, and he too hit his tee shot on No. 12 into the water.
Both made double bogey, which opened the door for anyone to take advantage.
Woods, who was two shots back thru 11 holes, played his back nine with veteran bravado, playing safe but aggressive golf. He parred No. 12 after landing the ball safely onto the middle of the green, then birdied the pair of back-nine par 5s (Nos. 13 and 15). Add on the spectacular shot on No. 16, and Woods could coast to victory on the final two holes.
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