Threat from Woods looming large again for his European rivals

The 36-year-old’s win at the Bay Hill Invitational on Sunday night was his first victory on the PGA Tour since the very public unravelling of his personal life.

He has also undergone major surgery on his troublesome knee in that time, a period when doubts were raised as to whether he would have the hunger or the ability to add to his remarkable haul of 14 major titles.

Having bottomed out when he dropped outside the world’s top 50 for the first time last year, Woods is now back up to sixth on the rankings.

And with the Masters starting in nine days, his return to the winners’ enclosure is timely.

“I’ve won here (Bay Hill) on a few occasions going into Augusta which has always been a good feeling,” said Woods.

“I’ve gone into Augusta with wins and without wins. You’re looking for one week, that’s all.

“Hopefully everything comes together for that one week. I understand how to play Augusta National and it’s just a matter of executing the game plan. They have made a couple little subtle changes out there but overall the golf course is still basically the same, so I’m looking forward to it.

“I still have got some work to do but I’m excited about the things that we have accomplished. It’s been very good.”

Victory at Bay Hill ended a long wait for Woods – although he did win the unofficial Chevron World Challenge in December – and took him to 72 PGA Tour titles.

He needs only one more to match the haul by Jack Nicklaus, whose 18 major wins is his primary target, and that would leave just Sam Snead’s record of 82 ahead of him. Woods said: “Jack’s had an amazing career and he’s won a bunch of tournaments – but also he’s won more majors than anybody else.”

Colin Montgomerie said yesterday that Woods’s return to winning ways was ‘ominous’ for the leading European golfers but added: “It’s good for the game. The last three years have been difficult but to have him back winning is good for golf – everybody is talking about it.”

While Woods was sending out an ominous warning on the men’s tour, Yorkshire’s Jodi Ewart earned her first top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour.

In only her third start since graduating onto both tours either side of the Atlantic, the 24-year-old finished in a tie for seventh at the Kia Classic in Carlsbad, California.

The Catterick-born Florida resident has another top 20 to her name already and has made the cut on all three starts in America.