As the crowd around the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Club roared for Tiger Woods, George Merritt almost got lost in the rush.

``This is the tightest tournament I've ever seen,'' said the doctor from Vidalia, Ga. ``I haven't missed a tournament since I was 16 in 1944.''

He watched history Sunday as Woods battled David Duval and Phil Mickelson all day before birdieing No. 18 and winning the 2001 Masters - his fourth consecutive major championship - by two strokes.

``He (won) against a lot of pressure and good players,'' Merritt said.

From a spot between the 17th green and the 18th tee box, Jamie Glonek pulled for Duval.

``I've got money on Duval,'' the Denver man said. ``But this has been fun to watch.''

That sentiment was shared by many of the thousands who followed the Woods-Mickelson-Duval drama throughout the final round.

As the scoreboard that faces the 17th green changed Duval's score to 15-under after his birdie at the 15th hole, spectators at the 17th cheered.

Minutes later, when the scoreboard reflected Duval's bogey at No. 16, some reacted with groans and muffled expletives.

``That hurts,'' Glonek said.

Earlier in the day, John Tennant of Ontario, Canada, watched Woods hit his approach on the 11th hole to within a couple of feet of the pin.

``Dramatic. Fantastic. Exciting. ... I'm all out of adjectives,'' he said.

Minutes later, Russell Tanksley of Atlanta stood under the trees between holes 11 and 13 and soaked it all in.

``This has to be the best one I've ever seen,'' he said. ``I love a good fight. That's what I'm here to see.''

He wasn't concerned about who won, but he'd followed the Woods-Mickelson pairing all day.

``May the best man win,'' he said. ``That way I can enjoy it.''

About that time, Woods was putting for par on No. 12. Though he couldn't see the ball, he heard the groan of the crowd.

``Oooooohh, he missed it,'' Tanksley said.

After the tournament was over and Woods was ready to don the green jacket for a second time, Mary Jo Cragon of Birmingham, Ala., was starry-eyed from watching her first tournament.

``It was exciting, but you know Duval was moving up behind,'' she said. ``You didn't know who would win until the last hole.''

The excitement was enough to hold Keith Caldwell's attention.

``Augusta is always great,'' said the Nashville, Tenn., man. ``It's good this one was so close and came down to the wire.''