Eighteen-time major winner Jack Nicklaus was quick to congratulate Tiger Woods after watching him win his fifth Masters to complete a remarkable comeback story.
Woodsโs victory by one shot at Augusta was his 15th major title, leaving him three behind Nicklausโ all-time record.
It was Woodsโ first major in over a decade after multiple back surgeries and personal issues looked to have cut short his pursuit of Nicklaus โ and at one point his career.
A big โwell doneโ from me to @TigerWoods! I am so happy for him and for the game of golf. This is just fantastic!!! ??@TheMasters
— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) 14 April 2019
โA big โwell doneโ from me to @Tiger Woods!โ Nicklaus wrote on Twitter.
โI am so happy for him and for the game of golf. This is just fantastic.โ
Former pro Paul McGinley said Woodsโ victory was like something out of Hollywood.
โItโs just absolutely fantastic,โ he said on Sky Sports. โThis is going to transcend our game of golf.
โNot just because itโs the Masters, not just because itโs Tiger Woods, but because we all love comebacks. Hollywood is made of comebacks.
Watching final hole of @TheMasters. @TigerWoods is looking GREAT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 14 April 2019
โHe was like a thoroughbred racehorse. He was just pacing himself all week and, as he got to the finishing line, he put that bit of pressure on.
โHis authority put pressure on the leaders and, as they made mistakes, he glided into the lead.
โItโs been a long time since his last rodeo, but heโs certainly not forgotten how to do it.โ
Congratulations, Tiger! To come back and win the Masters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit, and determination.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) 14 April 2019
United States President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: โWatching final hole of @TheMasters. @TigerWoods is looking GREAT!โ
His predecessor Barack Obama tweeted: โCongratulations, Tiger! To come back and win the Masters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit, and determination.โ
This says it all. pic.twitter.com/SFiyrpFZ9a
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) 14 April 2019
An overcome Woods celebrated victory by embracing his family.
And his former coach Butch Harmon said on Sky Sports: โIโve never seen him show emotion like that. At any time, anywhere, any time in his life.
โHe was humbled by his own mistakes, the things he went through he created, nobody else created them, and he came out the other side.
โHe got himself help, he got his body right, he got his head right and he went to work on his game.
โI couldnโt be happier for him and his family.โ
I am literally in tears watching @TigerWoods this is Greatness like no other. Knowing all you have been through physically to come back and do what you just did today? Wow Congrats a million times! I am so inspired thank you buddy.
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) 14 April 2019
Many were quick to ask if Woodsโ victory was the greatest comeback in sporting history given the hurdles he has faced and overcome since winning the US Open in 2008.
Twenty-three time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams wrote on Twitter: โI am literally in tears watching @TigerWoods this is Greatness like no other. Knowing all you have been through physically to come back and do what you just did today? Wow Congrats a million times! I am so inspired thank you buddy.โ
Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington said on BBC Sport: โThere is not a golfer in the world that isnโt happy that Tiger Woods won. In the modern era heโs been a golf and sport superstar.
โThis comeback story will break out from golf into all sports, the news. It will be everywhere.
TIGER ?????? #masters2019
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) 14 April 2019
โThere will be people who have never looked at golf and will be seeing this tomorrow and wondering what itโs all about.โ
Ian Poulter was looking for his first major title, but, after finishing five off the pace in a share of 12th, he could only tip his cap to Woods.
โItโs amazing, (given) what heโs been through,โ Poulter said on Sky Sports.
โItโs amazing for the game, itโs amazing for him and very fitting that heโs putting that green jacket on today.
Running the numbers on how long itโll take me to get to 15... pic.twitter.com/PcNSF2oCzB
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) 14 April 2019
โIt was special to play with him yesterday. Heโs got a couple of loose shots, but even when heโs not at his best sometimes heโs incredible and this is another one of those moments.โ
Brooks Koepka, who finished one shot behind Woods, added: โItโs amazing with everything heโs been through. Itโs awesome to see.
โI think we all knew this was coming eventually.โ
Commentating on the Masters for American broadcaster CBS, six-time major winner Nick Faldo said: โThat will be the greatest scene in golf forever.
โWe will never see anything as exhilarating as that.โ
What a great moment for the game of golf. Iโm so impressed by @TigerWoods' incredible performance, and I'm so happy for him to capture another Green Jacket. Truly a special day that will go down in history. Congratulations, Tiger! #rematch ?
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) 14 April 2019
Phil Mickelson hailed Woodโs victory as a โspecial day that will go down in historyโ.
โWhat a great moment for the game of golf. Iโm so impressed by @TigerWoodsโ incredible performance, and Iโm so happy for him to capture another Green Jacket,โ he tweeted.