Roaring back

Adam Candee

Monday, April 11, 2005 | 9:22 a.m.

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It resurfaced three holes too soon to be poetry, yet none too early.

The trumpeted return of Tiger Woods will be tied to the 15-foot birdie putt he drilled on the first playoff hole against Chris DiMarco on Sunday at Augusta National to win his fourth Masters and reclaim the world's top ranking. On goes the green jacket and back comes Tiger, a more resilient and more dangerous version of him.

His ninth major championship, at age 29, no less, distinguishes Woods. But his ability to draw upon magic, to execute a shot hastily sketched on a napkin in his greatest hour of need, is what elevates Woods.

That is what Woods did at No. 16, where his 30-foot chip out of trouble first had to be a mistake, then had a chance, and finally had the thousands surrounding the green believing that he is still every bit the threat to Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 professional majors that they doubted he and his rebuilt swing were on Thursday.

In danger of falling into a tie with DiMarco just hours after appearing to knock him out with an early four-shot advantage, Woods dreamed up a chip that he remembered Davis Love III succeeding with at No. 16 once before. He hit it, ran up to stare it down and willed it into the cup when it looked ready to rest on the lip.

"Somehow, an earthquake happened and it fell in the hole," Woods said.

This is not the Tiger of old, so the two-shot lead that his miracle shot gave him evaporated with bogeys on the next two holes. He allowed DiMarco back in for a playoff, but quickly shut him out with two beautiful shots at No. 18 to set up a 15-foot birdie putt that Woods calmly drilled to win before losing his composure during the awarding of his first green jacket since 2002.

Earl Woods could not be at Augusta National this time to witness the latest chapter in his son's story. He is in failing health, Tiger said, and made it to Augusta but not to the course Sunday. His voice choking with emotion, Tiger dedicated the win to Earl.

"I can't wait to see him and give him a big bear hug," Woods said.

Earl, the first architect of Tiger as a golfer, would undoubtedly be proud of how his son rebounded from a first round score of 2-over 74 to scorch his way back into contention and then fight off a letdown to win. Woods recorded 16 birdies in 30 holes at one point this weekend, erasing DiMarco's four-shot lead and building one of his own by Sunday afternoon.

He didn't blow away the field as he did in his first Masters victory in 1997. But there was something transcendent about that win that lends to the idea that Woods is of another breed.

The same quality exuded from the chip. Woods aimed far left and above the hole. With so little green to use, any shot at the flag ran the risk of sliding far past the hole as DiMarco lined up a medium-length birdie putt. A Woods bogey and DiMarco birdie would have given DiMarco the lead.

The potential swing wasn't lost on Woods.

"I think under the circumstances, it's one of the best (shots) I've ever hit, only because of the turning point," Woods said.

The ball shot out of a good lie behind the left bunker, causing many in the gallery to think Woods had sailed the chip too far. One raised whisper, though, quieted the rest to the right of the green with intrigue: "No, he meant to do it."

Just then, the ball checked up and began its 90-degree right turn. Down the ledge it slid, eventually resting on the edge of the cup and then ducking for cover as Woods eyeballed it with contempt.

DiMarco missed the birdie putt and made par. Somehow, he wasn't surprised to be two shots down on the 17th tee.

"He made a great chip, great imagination," DiMarco said. "I was over there expecting him to make it. You know, you expect the unexpected and unfortunately, it's not unexpected when he's doing it."

He hinted that a return of some magic may not be far off earlier this season in his battle with Phil Mickelson at Doral with a go-for-broke second shot at a par-5 No. 12 that carried almost 300 yards over hazards to the green, setting up a dramatic eagle and an eventual victory.

A similar battle emerged with DiMarco on the back nine Sunday. Though he had forced the rest of the field into contention for third place, Woods could not shake the shorter hitting DiMarco.

He thought he had done so at No. 16. And although he hadn't, Woods had done something far more important to his legacy by reaching deep into his bag for the type of shot that not only captures majors, but imaginations as well.