Highs of the Tiger – a look back at Woods’ career in major championships

Wednesday marks the 25th anniversary of Tiger Woods’ first major title at the 1997 Masters.

Woods won by 12 strokes at Augusta to kick-start a stellar career which has brought him 15 grand slam titles and saw him hold all four concurrently in 2001.

Here, the PA news agency looks back over Woods’ career in the majors.

Woods’ first major win began inauspiciously as he turned in 40, four over par – but a six-under back nine including an eagle at the 15th left him fourth after the opening day.

He hit the front with a second-round 66, this time eagling the 13th, and followed that up with seven birdies in a third round of 65 to take a commanding nine-stroke lead at 15 under.

Two bogeys left him only level par for the front nine in round four but he birdied the 11th, 13th and 14th holes to finish 12 shots clear of runner-up Tom Kite.

Returning to Augusta in 2022 to play his first competitive event since last year’s near-fatal car crash, Woods made the cut comfortably on one under par and was still two over through 51 of the 72 holes.

However, a bogey-bogey-double bogey finish to his third round resulted in the first of back-to-back 78s over the weekend, leaving him 13 over and 47th of 52 finishers.

He therefore remains one behind Jack Nicklaus’ record of six Masters wins but stands alone in second both with five titles at Augusta and 15 total majors – Nicklaus again out in front with 18.

Woods has four wins at the US PGA Championship and three each at the Open Championship and US Open.

Woods’ 2001 Masters success saw him hold all four majors simultaneously, having won the US Open, the Open and the US PGA the previous year.

The “Tiger Slam” was part of a run of five wins in six major tournaments, also including the 1999 US PGA,