US Masters Countdown: Tiger Woods Wins at Bay Hill

Some two and a half years after he last tasted PGA Tour victory, Tiger Woods is a champion again. The troubled former world number one, whose life away from the greens and roughs of the game have dominated his media profile way too much in the same period held off a challenge from Graeme McDowell to win the Bay Hill Invitational for the seventh time in his auspicious career. This tournament victory comes at the perfect time for Woods, who has spent the last two years in the golfing wilderness - his poor, and at times embarrassing form punctuated only by sparse flashes of that old genius - with the US Masters coming up on the horizon. It is not however a victory out of nothing: the end of 2011 saw a marked improvement in Woods' game, with a second place finish in a tournament in Australia, and a victory in the Chevron World Challenge, and this season has seen a massive pick-up in the American's form. He led the Abu Dhabi Championship going into the final round, but was ultimately beaten by the Englishman Robert Rock, and impressed at the Honda Classic with a stunning final-round 62 €“ the best of his PGA Tour career €“ which was only narrowly bested by eventual winner, Rory McIlroy. The tide is almost certainly turning, and to reflect his new found form, he has now been made favourite for the US Masters, at a best price 4/1. Woods held off a spirited challenge from Northern Irishman McDowell, who eagled the par-5 6th to cut Woods' four shot lead down to three, before his opponent showed a mental steel that has been a conspicuous absence from his recent game to re-extend to four, and then eventually five shots on the 18th. Of the victory, beaten rival McDowell said the following:

"I believed I had a chance to win today but I didn't. But it was great to have a front-row seat to watch perhaps the greatest of all time doing what he does best."

And, Woods himself, who visibly enjoyed the support he received at the final hole, raising his hat in acknowledgement on his victory praised the support that had seen him take the biggest victory on the PGA Tour since McIlroy won last year's US Open by eight shots:

"It feels good. It feels really good to win. It has been a lot of hard work thankfully for a lot of people helping me out along the way and it was incredible to have that type of support I have had here all week. The atmosphere was great."

Next up Augusta in two weeks time, for a showdown battle between a resurgent Woods and current world number one Luke Donald, which has now taken on an altogether more tasty ring to it.