Less than 24 hours after losing the US Open by one shot to Angel Cabrera, Tiger Woods had cause for a greater celebration - the birth of his first child.

The world No 1's wife, Elin, gave birth to a baby girl, Sam Alexis Woods, early on Monday morning and Woods said: "Both Elin and Sam are doing well and resting peacefully. We want to thank our doctors and the hospital staff for all their dedicated and hard work.

"This is truly a special time in our lives and we look forward to introducing Sam to our family and friends over the next few weeks.

"We thank everyone for their well wishes and continued respect of our privacy."

The arrival comes just over a year after the death of Woods's father, Earl, from cancer. Earlier this month, the golfer spoke to organizers of the 2007 PGA Championship, telling a gathering in Tulsa, Oklahoma that the upcoming birth had helped him with his grief.

"This year is totally different," Woods said. "From losing a father to certainly becoming a father. My life is in two totally different places - a polar 180 from one another."

The due date had been a closely-guarded secret, with Woods suggesting he would miss a major tournament - most likely The Open at Carnoustie next month - to witness the birth. That will no longer be the case, but his upcoming schedule is certain to be affected.

Woods finished second in a major for the second time this year as Cabrera, from Argentina, captured the US Open at Oakmont on Sunday. Woods needed to hole a 30-foot putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff but missed by 18 inches to leave his record of major victories on 12.