Tiger Woods will be seeking a record-equalling sixth Masters title when the 86th edition tees off on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club.

Here’s a look at the US superstar’s five Masters victories:

1997: First major

In winning his first Masters, Woods shot a course record of 18-under par. He was the youngest golfer to win at Augusta National and the youngest major champion since World War II at the age of 21. He set a Masters record with a 12-shot victory over Tom Kite, and as the first African-American to win the tournament, he broadened the game’s attraction.

“That was by far the most important tournament I’ve ever won,” Woods said. A key consideration back then — earning a 10-year exemption on the US tour.

“You guys laugh at it now, but it was the coolest thing in the world,” Woods once recalled.

 2001: Tiger Slam

Woods became the first golfer to hold all four major trophies simultaneously, carding three straight rounds in the 60s on the way to a two-stroke victory over David Duval.

2002: Back-to-back

A third-round 66 keyed a victory that made Woods just the third golfer, after Jack Nicklaus in 1965-66 and Nick Faldo in 1989-90, to repeat as Masters champion.

2005: The Chip

When Woods was in a last-round struggle with Chris DiMarco, he hit a shot that would go down in Masters history. After missing the green on the 16th hole, Woods angled his chip to the left of the pin, allowing the ball to funnel down the slope and into the cup. It hesitated on the cup’s lip for an agonising second before sliding in. He went on to beat DiMarco on the first playoff hole with a 15-foot birdie putt.

2019: Drought ends

Woods had one successful season behind him when he arrived at Augusta National in 2019, having contended in two majors in 2018 and won the US PGA Tour Championship to confirm his return from spinal fusion surgery.

But doubts lingered that he would be able to win again on the game’s biggest stages, doubts that Woods quelled as he erased a two-shot third-round deficit to beat Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka by one stroke.

Woods, trailing by two through 11, birdied the 13th, 15th and 16th to march past a faltering Francesco Molinari for an emotional victory.

Also Read

Woods defies the odds in quest for sixth Masters title

Tiger Woods was set to make his most daring Masters bid yet...