When he absolutely had to be Tiger-esque, Tiger Woods found some of the old magic to win his fourth Masters Tournament and reclaim his position at the top of the golf world.

He birdied the first playoff hole, and delivered a Jordan-esque moment with his remarkable chip-in on the 16th hole, as perhaps only he can. But in truth, this wasn't the old Tiger.

It would be unfair, perhaps even ignorant, to try to measure the feat of winning a major tournament with style points. Majors are the standard by which greatness is defined in this sport, and more than anything, you win them with heart and guts.

So give Tiger his due for claiming his first major since Bethpage Black in 2002, tying Arnold Palmer with four green jackets, and resuming his quest to catch Jack Nicklaus and his record of 18 professional majors.

- John Harper, New York Daily News

Sorry, I don't yet buy the theory that Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of all time. But he has the best chance of anyone to become the greatest, with nine majors to Jack Nicklaus' seven at the same age, 29.

This Tiger just never thought such a suddenly dogged Chris DiMarco would grab him by the tail and nearly nail it to the wall before Woods birdied the playoff hole to win his fourth Masters green jacket.

Here was Tiger, who has never lost a late lead in a major, against DiMarco, who has seldom held a late lead anywhere.

Sunday, DiMarco didn't fold. He fought.

This is what he did for the 69th Masters: There is interesting golf, and there is dramatic golf, and then there was this Masters.

- Edwin Pope, Miami Herald

They say the Masters doesn't start until the back nine on Sunday.

It did.

It just happened early Sunday morning in the continuation of the third round. And if you didn't set your alarm clock, you missed it.

- Tom Hanson, Naples (Fla.) Daily News

The DiMarcos of the PGA Tour no longer throw in the towel at the thought of facing Woods. They see shots that once were so solid sometimes straying. They see hope where once there was none.

They see a sometimes vulnerable Tiger. Woods found the resolve to win despite his slips, a noteworthy attribute. But his latest major title raises questions never before faced by the game's best player. His answers will be telling.

- Bob Spear, The (Columbia) State

Woods hit a chip nearly 45 degrees away from the hole, but the ball caught the slope and started moving down toward the hole.

The ball seemed to be on track as it rolled and rolled and rolled until it stopped on the edge of the cup. Woods walked toward his ball, then stopped and squatted briefly. The ball then made one final, slow revolution and fell into the hole as Woods and the gallery erupted.

DiMarco was left only mouthing "good shot" in the deafening roar.

- Carlos Monnarez, Detroit Free Press