DATE=APRIL 15, 2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=MASTERS GOLF/TIGER WOODS (L-O)

NUMBER=288733

BYLINE=TOM AUCLAIR

DATELINE=AUGUSTA, GEORGIA

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: Tape was fed late Sunday, April 14 ///

INTRO: World Number One Tiger Woods of the United States is only the third golfer in history to win consecutive championships at The Masters. Tom Auclair has details on the tournament that ended Sunday in Augusta, Georgia.

TEXT: Tiger Woods joined fellow-American Jack Nicklaus and Britain's Nick Faldo as the only players to ever successfully defend a championship here at The Masters, as he posted a total score of 12-under-par, and won by three over South African Retief Goosen. Woods analyzed his victory.

/// WOODS ACT ///

With Retief (Goosen) struggling, and (Fiji's) Vijay (Singh) and (American) Phil (Mickelson) not really playing as good as they wanted to -- on the back nine, they made a few mistakes -- I just kept plugging along and kept trying to plot my way along the golf course. I wasn't hitting the ball as precisely as I wanted to, but I just stayed away from trouble and from the big numbers (over par).

/// END ACT ///

Woods, who at 26-years-old has now won seven major championships (and six of the last 10), came away from the win with a sense of his own place in the game's history.

/// WOODS ACT ///

When you leave the game, what you do as a player, you want to leave the game better than what you came into it. And, hopefully, I can do that. You know Arnold (Palmer) did throughout his golfing career, throughout his Master competitive career. And, you know, hopefully, when it's all said and done in my career, you know, I can say the same thing.

/// END ACT ///

Phil Mickelson finished solo third, six shots back. Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, a two-time Masters winner, was alone in fourth, five off the pace, while Ireland's Padraig Harrington, tied for fifth with South Africa's Ernie Els. (signed)

NEB/SPTS/TA/PARKE/TW