Tiger Woods is back where he belongs. Winning a tournament and dominating the field in a final round comeback, it was like he has never been away. By claiming the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando with a typical Woods performance, he extinguished any lingering doubts that his long injury lay-off would affect his chances at next month's Masters.
He started the final round at Bay Hill five shots adrift of Sean O'Hair but clawed the deficit back with a thrilling display of inspired golf, attacking the pin at every opportunity. He showed the necessary endurance for the forthcoming major as well as proving his trademark determination is still intact.
A feature of Woods' 66th PGA Tour win was the way his rivals fell away in the closing stages, which, as ever, was a by-product of the pressure Tiger's final round charge produces.
Pádraig Harrington was in with a shout going into the final round, but the Irishman could not contend with the heat Woods was exerting and carded late bogeys to finish over par for the tournament.
This represented a psychological blow for Woods, who is aware that Harrington, winner of both majors that the American missed through injury last year, could provide the biggest threat at Augusta.
Woods will want to prove that Harrington's wins at the Open and PGA Championship were simply a case of trophies being on loan until the rightful owner reclaimed them, and his win at Bay Hill laid down a good marker.
However, Harrington should still go into the Masters high on confidence and remind himself that Woods' recovery in the Palmer event was not representative of his recent displays at Augusta – Woods could not close the gap between himself and the eventual winner in coming second and third in the last three Masters tournaments. Golf betting for this one could be split down the middle.
Original Story:
http://www.sportsloungeblog.com/2009/...
He started the final round at Bay Hill five shots adrift of Sean O'Hair but clawed the deficit back with a thrilling display of inspired golf, attacking the pin at every opportunity. He showed the necessary endurance for the forthcoming major as well as proving his trademark determination is still intact.
A feature of Woods' 66th PGA Tour win was the way his rivals fell away in the closing stages, which, as ever, was a by-product of the pressure Tiger's final round charge produces.
Pádraig Harrington was in with a shout going into the final round, but the Irishman could not contend with the heat Woods was exerting and carded late bogeys to finish over par for the tournament.
This represented a psychological blow for Woods, who is aware that Harrington, winner of both majors that the American missed through injury last year, could provide the biggest threat at Augusta.
Woods will want to prove that Harrington's wins at the Open and PGA Championship were simply a case of trophies being on loan until the rightful owner reclaimed them, and his win at Bay Hill laid down a good marker.
However, Harrington should still go into the Masters high on confidence and remind himself that Woods' recovery in the Palmer event was not representative of his recent displays at Augusta – Woods could not close the gap between himself and the eventual winner in coming second and third in the last three Masters tournaments. Golf betting for this one could be split down the middle.
Original Story:
http://www.sportsloungeblog.com/2009/...
