GOLF BAY HILL INVITATIONAL:TIGER WOODS' rivals may feel as if they are stepping into his private lair this week when the American world number one defends his Arnold Palmer Invitational title at Bay Hill Club in Orlando.
Although Woods will be playing only his third tournament since being sidelined for eight months after having reconstructive knee surgery midway through last year, he has established a remarkable record at the Florida venue.
He won the first of his three consecutive US junior amateur titles there in 1991 and this week will be seeking to triumph for a record sixth time at the PGA Tour event hosted by Palmer.
“I’ve had good success there,” Orlando resident Woods said.
“We all love to support Arnold’s tournament – he helped put professional golf on the map.
“Plus, I get to sleep in my own bed,” added the 14-times major winner. “It’s always nice to basically have something on at home and you can keep your routine.” Last year, Woods won the event in dramatic fashion with a 25-foot birdie putt on the last hole to beat fellow American Bart Bryant by one stroke.
“I don’t know how I did that,” the 33-year-old recalled of his stylish finish. “I just wanted to get the speed right and make sure I didn’t leave myself a second putt . . . and it went in.”
Woods’ victory, his 64th on the PGA Tour, followed a run of four successive wins at Bay Hill from 2000.
“This (course) has always fit my eye since the junior golf days,” he said. “You have to play well in order to win the tournament. You can’t go out there and slap it around and try and shoot something in the mid 60s here.”
Should Woods go on to clinch the title on Sunday, it would be the fourth PGA Tour event where he has triumphed six times.
He has already achieved the feat at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the WGC-CA Championship and the Buick Invitational.
Only Sam Snead, with an astonishing run of eight victories at the Greater Greensboro Classic between 1938 and 1965, has won a PGA Tour event more than six times.
Although Woods will start Thursday’s opening round as the overwhelming favourite, he faces a strong field including three other members of the world’s top 10.
Fifth-ranked in the world Padraig Harrington, who is paired with Woods in the opening two rounds, 2007 champion Vijay Singh of Fiji (sixth) and 2005 winner Kenny Perry of the US (10th) are also competing.
Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, fresh from an encouraging performance in the Tavistock Cup, is also in the field along with Jeev Milkha Singh who was fourth in the recent WGC-CA championship at Doral.
- Paul Casey's six-iron strike for an eagle two during the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship has been named the European Tour Shot of the Month for February.
Bay Hill International
Course:Bay Hill Country Club, Orlando, Florida
Length:7,137 yards. Par: 70.
Prizemoney:€4.4 million, €794,000. for the winner.
Field:120.
Defending champion:Tiger Woods won with a 25ft birdie putt on the last hole.
Course record:62 – Andy Bean (1981) and Greg Norman (1984) .
On TV:Setanta Golf (7pm).
Weather:Very warm and partly cloudy. Possibility of rain on Sunday.
SELECTED TEE TIMES
(All times Irish)
Starting at hole 1
16.43Jeff Overton, Rocco Mediate, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind).
16.55Mark Wilson,
Padraig Harrington (Ire),Tiger Woods.
17.06Retief Goosen (Rsa), Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Brian Gay.
Starting at hole 10
12.25Vijay Singh (Fij), Ben Curtis, Robert Allenby (Aus).
12.36Kenny Perry, Stewart Cink, Adam Scott (Aus).
16.43Ross Fisher (Eng), Harrison Frazar,
Graeme McDowell (Ire).
16.55Nick Watney, Davis Love III, Stephen Ames (Can).
17.06Mike Weir (Can), Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk.
