Tiger Woods snapped the longest winless drought of his career with a dominating five-shot victory over Graeme McDowell at the USPGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday.
It marked the first USPGA Tour victory for Woods in 30 months, ending a winless spell that coincided with the personal turmoil that followed a 2009 sex scandal.
“It’s not like winning a major championship or anything, but it certainly feels really good,” Woods said.
Woods drained a short par putt on the par-four 18 to complete his round of two-under 70 and post a 13-under 275 total at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge course.
“It was just pure joy,” Woods told reporters.
The 14-time major winner, wearing his Sunday red and black pants, celebrated his 72nd USPGA Tour victory with a fist pump and then the customary shaking of hands with runner-up McDowell, who finished at eight-under 280.
“Today was unbelievable. The conditions were rough and those pins,” he said. “I don’t know what the average score was today, but it certainly wasn’t anywhere near par. It was a very tough day. It was a day of attrition. There weren’t going to be a lot of birdie opportunities out there.”
England’s Ian Poulter finished in third, seven shots behind Woods, while South Africa’s Ernie Els was part of a group of seven golfers who tied for fourth at the US$6 million event.
Woods had been on a win drought since revelations of his secret sex life in November of 2009 left his reputation in tatters, put his marriage on the path to divorce and sent sponsors fleeing.
Amid the uproar, Woods’ game suffered and his struggles continued last year as he battled to cement swing changes, despite injuries that limited his playing time.
“I am thankful for a lot of people helping me out. You all know who you are. It has been tough,” Woods said.
Host and golfing icon Palmer missed the end of his tournament after he was taken to the hospital with a blood pressure problem.
It is the custom at the event for Palmer to greet players just off the edge of the 18th green as they finish their rounds, but he couldn’t do that on Sunday. He was also supposed to be part of the trophy presentation to Woods.
“Nobody is overly concerned about the prognosis,” said Alaistair Johnston, vice chairman at IMG and Palmer’s longtime business manager.
Woods did post a victory in December, but that came in the limited-field Chevron World Challenge in southern California, an invitational tournament that he himself organizes to provide funds for his charity foundation.
Sunday’s official USPGA Tour win was the largest margin on the Tour since Rory McIlroy won last year’s US Open by eight shots.
Now with the Masters just a couple of weeks off, Woods heads to Augusta where he will try to continue his march toward Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors.
“I am excited, no doubt,” Woods said. “It is always fun to play it. I am looking forward to the momentum I have built here and the things I have worked on with my game.”
Woods entered the final round with a one-shot lead over McDowell, then seized command with a flurry of birdies on the front nine.
He compiled a four-shot lead midway through the round by making four birdies on the front.
Woods has a stunning 38-2 record on the USPGA Tour when taking an outright lead into the fourth round.
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