By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland
Sunday brought yet another grand crossing over the Swilcan Bridge. The defiant return of Tiger Woods. Two days after Jack Nicklaus bade an emotional farewell to the majors, Woods took another step toward the Golden Bear's record with another ruthless performance at St. Andrews, closing with a 2-under 70 to win the British Open for his 10th career major.
He won by five shots, the largest margin in any major since Woods won by eight at St. Andrews five years ago. This one had a sense of inevitability, as Woods took the lead on the ninth hole of the first round, and no one caught him over the final 64.
He joined Nicklaus as the only players to win the career Grand Slam twice, and Woods' second major of the year restored a dominance that had been missing over the past couple of years.
Even after he won the Masters in a playoff, there were questions about whether Woods could blow away the competition the way he did five years ago, when he captured seven out of 11 majors.
But that's exactly what happened on the Old Course.
Woods was challenged briefly by Colin Montgomerie and his flag-waving gallery, but pulled away on the back nine with one perfect shot after another to finish at 14-under 274.
He didn't stop and pose atop the Swilcan Bridge as Nicklaus did on Friday. Instead, he walked swiftly over the stone arch, removed his cap as he walked up the 18th fairway and sent a powerful message to the world of golf: He's back.
Maybe those swing changes weren't such a bad idea.
"This is one of the reasons I made the changes," Woods said, "so I could be back here again and be at this level."
Sunday brought yet another grand crossing over the Swilcan Bridge. The defiant return of Tiger Woods. Two days after Jack Nicklaus bade an emotional farewell to the majors, Woods took another step toward the Golden Bear's record with another ruthless performance at St. Andrews, closing with a 2-under 70 to win the British Open for his 10th career major.