Tiger Woods produced a scintillating finish to win a fifth Masters title and end an 11-year wait to claim a 15th major at Augusta Sunday night and the world stood still hailing the greatest comeback in sports hero.
From the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe there have been raucous celebrations around the 18th green as Woods finished with a two-under-par 70 to win on 13 under, one clear of fellow Americans Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka.
“I’m a little hoarse from yelling,” said the 43-year-old. “I was just trying to plod my way around all day then all of a sudden I had the lead.
“Coming up 18 I was just trying to make a five. When I tapped in I don’t know what I did, I know I screamed.
“To have my kids there, it’s come full circle. My dad was here in 1997 and now I’m the dad with two kids there.
“It will be up there with one of the hardest I’ve had to win because of what has transpired in the last couple of years.”
Former US President Barack Obama, who played a round of golf with Woods during his time in office, paid tribute to Woods’ determination after a difficult few years.
“To come back and win the Masters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit and determination,” he wrote.
US President Donald Trump said he loved “people who are great under pressure. What a fantastic life comeback for a really great guy!”
Woods had spinal fusion surgery in April 2017 and has had four back surgeries in his career just like the twenty-three time Grand Slam tennis champion Serena Williams who has struggled with injuries throughout her career and has twice suffered a pulmonary embolism. But Serena has sweet words for Woods.
“I am literally in tears watching Tiger Woods, this is Greatness like no other,” the American tweeted. “Knowing all you have been through physically to come back and do what you just did today? Wow. Congrats a million times! I am so inspired.”
Former basketball player Magic Johnson posted that “the roar of the Tiger is back” while Tom Brady, who won a record sixth Super Bowl in February, spent the evening “running the numbers on how long it’ll take me to get to 15”.
Real Madrid and Wales footballer Gareth Bale also celebrated Woods’ victory.
For BBC Sport presenter Gary Lineker, Woods’ victory was the “second most thrilling sporting achievement I’ve seen”.
The best? Leicester winning the Premier League title in 2016 as huge underdogs, of course. “There’s something in my eye,” Lineker tweeted. “To use a phrase once used before about Tiger Woods – ‘Oh my goodness…Wow….In your life have you seen anything like that?'”
Former tennis world number one Chris Evert said: “Tiger has shown us all that you can always come back, in sport and in life, if you put in the work”.
Legendary former England cricketer Ian Botham called Woods’ victory “one of the biggest inspirational performances… Who said he wouldn’t win another major… no. 15 and more to come”.
