Eighteen-time major winner Jack Nicklaus said Tiger Woods had him "shaking in his boots" after a remarkable fifth Masters title saw him resume his pursuit of the all-time majors record.
Woods' 15th major title, secured by one shot at Augusta, came 11 years after his last, a period during which he has undergone multiple back surgeries and faced personal problems which had threatened to end his career.
Woods had himself suggested he would never again contend for a major, but Nicklaus said he always expected Woods to come back.
"I felt for a long time he was going to win again," Nicklaus told The Golf Channel. "And, you know, the next two majors are at Bethpage, where he's won (2002 US Open), and Pebble Beach, where he's won (2000 US Open). So, you know, he's got me shaking in my boots, guys."
Nicklaus had been fishing in the Bahamas but caught the end of Woods' round and said he was in no doubt he would win.
"There wasn't any question in mind, after seeing (Francesco) Molinari hit the ball in the water at 12, and Tiger put it on the green," he said.
"I said, 'Tournament's over'. It doesn't make any difference what anyone else is going to do. Somebody is going to make enough mistakes and Tiger won't make any, and he didn't."
Woods' great rival and Ryder Cup team-mate Phil Mickelson also congratulated him, cheekily suggesting a rematch of the US dollar nine million challenge match they played last November - which Mickelson won.
"What a great moment for the game of golf," Mickelson wrote. "I'm so impressed by TigerWoods' incredible performance, and I'm so happy for him to capture another Green Jacket.
"Truly a special day that will go down in history. Congratulations, Tiger! #rematch"
An overcome Woods celebrated victory by embracing his family.
And his former coach Butch Harmon said on Sky Sports: "I've never seen him show emotion like that. At any time, anywhere, any time in his life.
"He was humbled by his own mistakes, the things he went through he created, nobody else created them, and he came out the other side.
"He got himself help, he got his body right, he got his head right and he went to work on his game. I couldn't be happier for him and his family."
Six-time major winner Nick Faldo was commentating on CBS in the United States, and said: "That will be the greatest scene in golf forever. We will never see anything as exhilarating as that."
PA
