Roaring Tiger can be cat’s whiskers again

Woods’ good form makes Bay Hill win likely

THE Arnold Palmer Invitational is not the first chance for Tiger Woods to return to number one in the world. But it might be his best. A win this week would allow Woods to go back to number one for the first time since October 2010.

Woods is not only the defending champion at Bay Hill, he is a seven-time winner.

Not only does his game look sharp, Woods already has two wins this year, both of them with comfortable margins on the back nine at Torrey Pines and Doral. And his peers are paying attention.

“The thing you [don’t] give Tiger enough credit for is every time I see him tee it up, he hits the centre of the bat – hits it solidly all the time,” said Brandt Snedeker, who has done his viewing on TV after sitting out the last five weeks with a rib injury.

“That is a very underrated quality. Not very many guys do that. When guys have an off week, they tend to mishit it. When Tiger has an off week, it’s not like that.”

Graeme McDowell saw it last weekend at Doral, where he did his best to make up a deficit and Woods always had an answer, winning by two. McDowell also saw it last year at Bay Hill in fast, firm conditions that made it feel like Sunday at the US Open.

Woods closed with a 70 and won by five. “As difficult as this golf course played last year on Sunday, I watched the Tiger Woods that’s won 14 major championships,” said McDowell. “I watched a display of discipline. Conservative at times, but firing away from pins. When the course gets tougher, the guy is able to slip into a gear where he plays aggressive golf to conservative targets.

“When he’s playing well, he’s hard to beat. Especially when the golf course is as difficult as this one was last year on Sunday afternoon.”

Woods sank to as low as number 58 in November 2011 before making a gradual return towards the top, getting a power boost last year by winning three times. He went to the US PGA Championship with a chance to reach number one by winning, but then he failed to convert a 36-hole share of the lead. Rory McIlroy won at Kiawah Island, and with three more wins the rest of the way, he appeared to be entrenched at number one for some time.

As McIlroy has floundered this year, Woods has been charging. Whether it happens this week is of little consequence to Woods. He has long said that winning takes care of everything, especially the number one ranking. He’s in no rush. But he is proud of his climb back to at least be in this position.

“We’re getting better,” said Woods. “Things are still becoming more efficient. These two wins I’ve had this year, I’ve built myself some nice leads, which means that I’ve played really well, and things are starting to become more efficient.”

Woods clearly is the favourite at Bay Hill considering his track record, even though Arnie’s place has thrown him a few surprises. While he has won seven times, he has failed to crack the top 20 on five times too.

The forecast is for scattered thunderstorms throughout the week, making it unlikely that Bay Hill will be as crusty as it was last year. The field is the strongest of the year for regular US PGA Tour events, even without McIlroy playing.

This is no longer Woods’ home, having moved to south Florida. But his memories at Bay Hill date to winning the US Junior Amateur in 1991. He met Palmer here for the first time. He played Bay Hill as an amateur (he missed the cut) and played in the King’s shootout game (Woods said he lost money). If that’s not enough, both his children were born at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

“This place and this tournament have a special place in my hear. And this could be a special week, even though he looks at the big picture,” said Woods. “As far as getting back to number one and all that entails, it’s not easy to get there in the first place. I don’t think people realise how hard it is to become number one in the world. But then to sustain it for a number of years is not easy, as well.

“It’s about winning golf tournaments, and when you don’t win, being in the top five and continue racking up points.” — Sapa-AP