GOLF: They hunted and chased, tracked and pursued; but all to no avail. Tiger Woods, the prey, not only evaded their clutches, he did so with an assuredness that is the mark of true greatness.

In taking his 10th major title, and his second British Open, the world's number one commanded the Old Course here as if the hollows and swales created by Mother Nature were tailor-made just for him.

Perhaps this home of golf has found a natural son, for Woods, who shot a final round 70 for 274, 14-under-par, was claiming the claret jug for the second successive time at St Andrews.

Compared to his last title win in 2000, this was different yet equally dominant, a wire-to-wire win. This time, he didn't avoid the course's 112 bunkers throughout the four days, and this time he didn't have an eight-stroke winning margin. He had a mere five shots to spare, with Colin Montgomerie closest to him but as far as the sun is from the earth.

What Woods did was reaffirm his supremacy. With Jack Nicklaus using this championship to bid farewell to the majors, it was truly fitting that Woods, who was completing what has become affectionately known as the "Jack Slam", by winning at each of Nicklaus's majors departures, became just the second player to win each of the four majors more than once.

Nicklaus, of course, was the first.

"To have won it twice and complete my career Grand Slam twice (at St Andrews), it doesn't get any sweeter than that," Woods said.

Now, Woods wants to pursue Nicklaus's record haul of 18 major titles. "Well, I mean it is pretty cool. I've gone one past half-way. Jack's got 18, now I have 10.

"Man, I tell you what, when I started playing the tour, I didn't think I'd have this many majors before the age of 30. There's no way; no one ever has. Usually, the golden years are in your 30s for a golfer. Hopefully, that will (still) be the case."

In this season's majors, Woods has been the dominant figure. First in the US Masters at Augusta. Second in the US Open at Pinehurst. First in the British Open at St Andrews.

"I've been criticised. Why would I change my game? This is why. First, second and first in the last three majors, that's why. I'm so excited to have my best ball-striking rounds when I need it the most, to hit the ball that solidly as I did today."

Woods added he hoped his win would provide a spur for his father, Earl, in his battle with cancer.

"My dad and I are very close and we (the rest of the family) are just trying to make him as positive as we can. This, I hope, just gives him extra fight."

Woods, who has surpassed the $6-million mark in earnings on the US Tour for the fifth time in 10 seasons, matched the lowest opening round by a winner at the British Open, joining Peter Thomson (1958), Nick Faldo (1992) and Greg Norman (1993).

For Montgomerie, there was the solace that he at least was back contending in majors.

"It's nice to have a little bit of resurgence now after really three years in the wilderness," said Monty. "It's fantastic to get back to a position where I was through the '90s in Europe.

"There's no disgrace to finishing second to the best player in the world."

Graeme McDowell finished as the best of the three Irish players who survived the cut, completing a best-of-the-day final round of 67 to be tied-11th on 282. It gave the 25-year-old from Portrush his best finish in a major.

"I feel I made some breakthroughs in my golf swing this week and I know exactly what I am trying to do. I am back to hitting it the way I need to. I'm heading in the right direction," he said.