Tiger Roars Again at Bay Hill

Tiger Woods sent out a warning to the rest of the golfing world that he is back and ready to add to his Majors tally after overhauling a five-stroke deficit in the final round of the Bay Hill Invitational tournament to win the Arnold Palmer hosted event. It was Tiger’s 66th title and his first since returning to competitive action following knee surgery.  It was also the sixth time he has won the event.

Woods fired a final-round 67, to peg back countryman and overnight leader Sean O’Hair, who folded under the intense media spotlight and pressure of playing with Tiger to shoot a one-over-par 73 and lose out by a single shot. O’Hair had been chasing a third PGA Tour title.

Woods had started the day brightly with birdies on the second and third holes, and finally drew level with O’Hair on the 15th following a 25-foot birdie putt. Tiger edged in front at the 16th after O’Hair bogeyed the hole to Woods’ par, but Woods promptly gave the shot back on 17. It wasn’t until the 72nd hole that Tiger finally sealed the win to claim the title and $1.08million in fading light at the Orlando venue by sinking a 16-foot putt for birdie.

Although defeated, O’Hair wasn’t too downbeat about missing out. In an interview afterwards he said:

“I’ve got to look at the positive side of this, I’m playing great and the swing changes that I’m making are coming around … I didn’t give myself enough birdie opportunities out there today.”

Woods was understandably delighted to be back among the winners and in a greenside interview after celebrating the win with his caddie, Stevie Williams, said:

“It feels good to be back in contention again and to feel the rush and to have to deal with everything coming down the stretch. It’s been a while but it kind of felt good.”

Zach Johnson, the 2007 US Masters champion, finished a further two strokes behind after shooting a final round 69.