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Praise pours in for Tiger Woods victory
The world's top golfers paid tribute to Tiger Woods after the world number one's five-shot victory in the British Open on Sunday.
Woods held off the field with a closing 70 to seal his 10th major title, and his rivals declared their admiration for the 29-year-old American.
"You're playing against the best player in the world and when he attacks the course he does it with great ball-striking," said compatriot Fred Couples after finishing tied for third place with Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal.
"He's setting the bar so high, he's so strong and he's just a great player," added Couples.
Olazabal had the best view of Woods as he partnered him in the final round.
"I don't think it's impossible to catch Tiger but it's close to impossible," said Olazabal. "He has played really solidly today, he was straight off the tee and he controlled the distance very well."
Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who was among a group of players who tied for fifth, believes he had the opportunity to beat Woods.
"If you look at the way I played today I had my chance," Garcia said. "I had a chance of at least making it tight. It's been that way all week, things didn't go for me."
Garcia, four years younger than Woods, is confident he is good enough to challenge the American's supremacy.
"I know what I can do and I'm looking forward to doing that," Garcia said. "I feel my game is right up there.
"It's just a matter of having that week and making the putts when you need to. You learn from these things and you make it better next time."
Briton Colin Montgomerie was again deprived of his elusive first major after finishing second behind Woods, who also won this year's U.S. Masters to end a run of 10 majors without a victory and finished second in last month's U.S. Open.
"There are a few people cursing their luck now, people who say they should be major champions," Montgomerie said.
"But you have to beat Tiger. If he stays fit and healthy, he has 10 of these majors now and we all know Jack (Nicklaus) had 18 and he's over halfway now. It's amazing.
"Can he achieve the impossible? He's on his way and all credit to him," added Montgomerie.
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