Woods has special words for his father

Tiger Woods said tonight that he hopes his latest major victory – his 10th - provides yet another spur for his father Earl in his battle with cancer.

After capturing the Masters in April the world number one cried because it was the first time in his four wins there that he had been able to hug his father coming off the final green.

This time Woods senior was too weak to make the trip to Britain for the Open at St Andrews and after beating Colin Montgomerie by five his son said: “Dad’s hanging in there as always, being stubborn.

“If I can fight and grind through this why can’t he? My Dad and I are very close and we (the rest of the family) are just trying to make him as positive as we can. This, I hope, just gives him extra fight.”

It was Woods’ second Open success and the second he was achieved at the Home of Golf. The first was by eight shots in 2000.

“It’s a great habit to get into, isn’t it?” he added. “My ball-striking when I warmed up was one of the best sessions I’ve ever had in my life and I hit it solidly all day.

“It was one of those I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

“Ten majors – it’s pretty cool.

“When I started playing the Tour I didn’t think I would have this many before I was 30 (this December). Nobody has.

“Normally your golden years are in in your 30s and hopefully that will be the case.

“I’ve been criticised for making the changes to my game that I have, but this is why – first, second, first in the majors this year.

“There are some courses you feel comfortable on and this is one of them. I enjoy the lines – they fit my eye – and there’s no shot I don’t feel comfortable on.

“I fell in love with it the first time I played it.”