How it unfolded
Tiger Woods opened with 65, led by six at 36 holes and ten at 54, then closed with 67 for 272 at 12-under. Runners-up Ernie Els and Miguel Ángel Jiménez finished at 287 — a 15-stroke gap. Woods was the only player under par for the week and did not record a single bogey on Sunday. His 272 tied Jack Nicklaus and Lee Janzen's 72-hole Open record; 12-under crushed the previous benchmark. The margin was the largest in major history since Old Tom Morris won The Open by 13 in 1862. The win began a run through the Open and PGA Championship and the following year's Masters that left Woods holding all four professional majors at once.
Why it still matters
The tournament reset what dominance means in golf. When the entire field finished over par and one player was 12-under, every future landslide would be measured against it. The 'Tiger Slam' — holding four majors simultaneously though not in one calendar year — remains unique.