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CNN Live Today

Tiger Woods Captures Third Masters Championship

Aired April 15, 2002 - 10:27   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: You know, when you come face to face with the Tiger, beware of the tail. Tiger Woods again proved the ferocity of his endgame by surging ahead in the final round and capturing his third Masters championship.

Details from CNN "Sports Illustrated" reporter, Bob Fiscella.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FISCELLA, CNN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Who is the greatest closer of all time? No, it's not this man. It's this man. Tiger Woods converting for the 23rd time in his last 24 tries when taking at least a share of the lead into the final ground as he joins Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only players to win back to back Masters.

TIGER WOODS, THIRD MASTERS TITLE: I enjoy competing. I thoroughly enjoy competing, and maybe that's why I was able to win those tournaments, because I enjoyed being in there in position with the chance to win. That's what we dream of as a kid. You know, that's why we hit all those balls and hitting those extra shots against Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus or Ben Hogan, you know, trying to beat them down the stretch. That's why we do that as a kid. That's why we dream, and I have been fortunate enough to live out my dreams.

RETIEF GOOSEN, FINISHED SECOND: You notice every time he tees up in one of those tournaments, his chances of winning is pretty good. The courses really favor him, a long and tough, and with his length, you know, he can overcome any course. He is going to win a few more before his time is over.

WOODS: I don't try and do anything special. I just kind of move around and do the best I possibly can. And maybe I think sometimes we as players, you know, I have been guilty of it, we all try a little too hard at times.

FISCELLA: In defending his title, Tiger slips on the green jacket for the third time. Only Nicklaus and Palmer have been fitted for more. Incredibly, he has now won six of the last ten majors.

WOODS: It's great to be able to have my name mentioned with, you know, some of the golfing greats, especially at this tournament. This tournament is obviously pretty historic and very special to a lot of the players. This is the tournament we really want to win, and to be able to put my name on that trophy three times, and it's really cool.

DAVIS LOVE III, 11 STROKES BACK: Now we know what it would have been like to play up against Jack Nicklaus. I mean, that's what we are dealing with. We are dealing with a guy that can dominate when he is playing his best golf and even when he's not playing his best golf. So it's exciting to watch.

NICK PRICE, 10 STROKES BACK: Jack had an uncanny knack of being able to do that in his prime, which was, you know, just getting his game to peak at the majors. And I think Tiger, that's all that interests him right now.

GOOSEN: I would say, you know, besides Jack Nicklaus he's the best player ever, so he's got a few more to win to get to Jack, but I don't think there is any other player like him before.

FISCELLA (on camera): Overall, this is Tiger's seventh professional major, which moves him into a tie for sixth on the all- time list with a group that includes Palmer, and appropriately enough, Bobby Jones as he does it on Jones' own course.

From Augusta National covering the Masters, I am Bob Fiscella.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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