Tiger Woods, who won the U.S. Open, British Open
and PGA Championship in 2000, has been voted Reuters sportsman of
the year.
"Over 12 months, his achievements outshine
every other sportsman," said Donald Walker at The Scotsman.
Woods was the clear winner with 139
points out of a maximum of 250. German Formula One champion Michael
Schumacher clinched second place with 73 points just ahead of Britain's
gold medal-winning rower Steve Redgrave who bagged 67.
Fourth place went to Dutch swimmer
Pieter van den Hoogenband (56) while Tour de France winner Lance
Armstrong, last year's Reuters sports personality of the year, finished
fifth (48).
Fifty sports editors and journalists
from 37 countries nominated up to five sportsmen. Each first place
choice was awarded five points, the second-placed four points and
so on.
For many who took part, the year belonged
to Tiger Woods.
In all he won nine U.S. titles, the
best return since Sam Snead's 11 of 50 years ago, and matched Ben
Hogan's achievement of winning three of the four majors to become
the youngest man, at 24, and only the fifth ever, to complete a
career grand slam.
"Tiger Woods continues to astonish,"
said Roger Crutchley at the Bangkok Post. "Winning three out of
four majors this year just does not tell it all.
"For the first time in golfing history,
you have a situation in which one player is clear favourite to win
every time he plays."
The American touched perfection in
winning the U.S. Open by a record 15 strokes and the British Open
by eight, the latter in a record 19-under-par.
