Classic Masters, No 2: 1997

IT WAS hailed as the greatest performance in a major as Tiger Woods smashed records galore to win his first Masters.

At 21, he was the youngest by two years to win any major, his 12-stroke winning margin was the largest in Masters history and his 18-under par total beat the record (-17) held by Jack Nicklaus for 32 years.

Yet it all started badly for Woods. His opening 40 over the first nine holes was, by two shots, the worst start by a Masters winner. Incredibly, he mentally corrected his game as he walked on to the tenth tee, immediately birdied from 18 feet and the rout began. The longest club he hit into a par 4 all week was a 7-iron. His driving average of 323 yards was 25 yards longer than the nearest rival. Setting out with a nine-shot lead, the final day was a procession. He could have fluffed the final hole spectacularly and still won. But he wanted Nicklaus’s record, and duly holed a five-footer for par to succeed.