ST ANDREWS (Scotland), July 17: Tiger Woods romped to victory by five shots at the 134th British Open on Sunday to clinch the 10th major title of his career. The world number one, champion at St Andrews in 2000, hardly put a foot wrong as he become only the second player after Jack Nicklaus to win each of the Grand Slam events at least twice.

Back to his very best form, the 29-year-old American fired a two-under-par 70 in breezy conditions on the Old Course to finish at 14-under 274.

He now stands third in the all-time listings for major winners, behind fellow Americans Nicklaus (18) and Walter Hagen (11).

Leader from day one after opening with a 66, Woods was never headed during the week although his advantage was briefly cut to one on the last day when he bogeyed the par-four 10th after driving into a greenside pot bunker.

His playing partner Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain and Briton Colin Montgomerie had been his closest challengers but both fell away soon afterwards.

Twice US Masters champion Olazabal dropped shots on 12, 13, 15 and 17 but birdied the last on his way to a 74 and a tie for third at eight under while Montgomerie’s challenge ended with bogeys on 11, 13 and 16.

The 42-year-old Scot returned a 72 to secure second place at nine under, his best Open finish in 16 starts but only his second top-10.

American Fred Couples, the 1992 US Masters champion, finished level with Olazabal in third place after reeling off five birdies and a bogey on his way to a four-under-par 68.

US Open winner Michael Campbell carded a 72 to finish in a seven-way share of fourth at seven under, level with world number two Vijay Singh (72), Spaniard Sergio Garcia (73) and double US Open champion Retief Goosen (74).

Two strokes clear of the field overnight, Woods held off the initial challenge of his nearest pursuers with birdies at the fifth, ninth, 12th and 14th sandwiched around a solitary bogey at the par-four 10th.

After picking up his first shot of the day at the par-five fifth, he missed an opportunity to forge three shots clear when he lipped out from six feet at the seventh.

However, he drove the green at the par-four ninth for his third birdie of the week there to reach the turn in two-under 34.

His stumble at the 10th, where he also tried to drive the green, was followed by further birdies at the par-four 12th and par-five 14th as he put daylight between himself and his rivals, none of whom were able to mount a sustained challenge.

Leading final round scores (Britain unless stated):

274 — Tiger Woods (US) 66, 67, 71, 70.

279 — Colin Montgomerie 71, 66, 70, 72.

280 — Fred Couples (US) 68, 71, 73, 68; Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) 68, 70, 68, 74.

281 — Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 69, 72, 68, 72; Sergio Garcia (Spain) 70, 69, 69, 73; Retief Goosen (South Africa) 68, 73, 66, 74; Bernhard Langer (Germany) 71, 69, 70, 71; Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 71, 74, 67, 69; Vijay Singh (Fiji) 69, 69, 71, 72.

282 — Nick Faldo 74, 69, 70, 69; Graeme McDowell 69, 72, 74, 67; Kenny Perry (US) 71, 71, 68, 72; Ian Poulter 70, 72, 71, 69.

283 — Darren Clarke 73, 70, 67, 73; John Daly (US) 71, 69, 70, 73; David Frost (South Africa) 77, 65, 72, 69; Mark Hensby (Australia) 67, 77, 69, 70; Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 68, 70, 73, 72; Sean O’Hair (US) 73, 67, 70, 73; Nick O’Hern (Australia) 73, 69, 71, 70; Lloyd Saltman 73, 71, 68, 71.

284 — Bart Bryant (US) 69, 70, 71, 74; Tim Clark (South Africa) 71, 69, 70, 74; Scott Drummond 74, 71, 69, 70; Brad Faxon (US) 72, 66, 70, 76; Nick Flanagan (Australia) 73, 71, 69, 71; Tom Lehman (US) 75, 69, 70, 70; Eric Ramsay 68, 74, 74, 68; Tadahiro Takayama (Japan) 72, 72, 70, 70; Scott Verplank (US) 68, 70, 72, 74.

285 — Richard Green (Australia) 72, 68, 72, 73; Sandy Lyle 74, 67, 69, 75.

286 — Simon Dyson 70, 71, 72, 73; Ernie Els (South Africa) 74, 67, 75, 70; Peter Hanson (Sweden) 72, 72, 71, 71; Thomas Levet (France) 69, 71, 75, 71; Joe Ogilvie (US) 74, 70, 73, 69; Adam Scott (Australia) 70, 71, 70, 75; Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 74, 67, 73, 72.—Reuters