It was Woods’ third US Open victory, having won in 2000 at Pebble Beach and at Bethpage Black in 2002, and the win came in his first tournament since finishing second at the Masters on April 13, having undergone surgery on his left knee two days later.

Woods battled pain in the knee all week, forcing the play-off with Mediate by producing a 72nd hole birdie and repeating the feat in today’s play-off at the 18th hole before sealing the championship at the seventh on the first hole of sudden death.

“I don’t know how it even got this far but I’m very, very fortunate to have played 91 holes and come out on top,” said Woods.

“I think this is the best, just because of all the things I had to deal with. It’s a close one with the first (major) that I won (at the 1997 Masters).

“I dealt with a few things this week and just had to keep plugging along.

“I wasn’t feeling my best, I didn’t get off to the greatest of starts and when I finally got off to a good start (in the play-off) I screwed that up by finding the bunker on three.

“All week I just happened to get off to such slow starts and had to just keep battling back, battle back, battle back, and today was another example of that.”

Having sealed victory, Woods had been greeted by his daughter Sam Alexis, who will be one tomorrow, and the champion said it had been a memorable feeling the day after Fathers’ Day.

“It’s unbelievable. I know now why my dad got so emotional in 2002 when I won and brought it back to him,” he said.

“I understand now how he felt. To have my daughter there, it means so much more. Obviously it’s not Fathers’ Day but close enough.”

On the day he reached 500 weeks as world number one, Woods came out on top after a marathon duel with fellow American Rocco Mediate.

After staying alive with a 15-foot putt yesterday Woods again birdied the last to stop 45-year-old qualifier Mediate becoming the championship’s oldest winner.

They were both round in level par 71s as a result, Mediate having come from three down after 10 to lead by one on the final tee.

Woods then won his own version of the “Battle of Wounded Knee” when his opponent, ranked 158th in the world, bogeyed the first extra hole of sudden death. Their 91st of the week.

The world number one made it a remarkable five straight victories at the San Diego venue and took his on-course career earnings through the $100m mark.

If not the greatest victory of all the 87 he has now had as a professional, it was certainly the most unlikely when he started with a double bogey and appeared miles short of full fitness.

His play-off record now, though, is a stunning 16-3 – and, of course, he has maintained his record of winning every single major he has led after 54 holes. All 14 of them, that is.