Woods looks in ominous form as the Masters looms into view

World No 2 Tiger Woods believes his second win of the year points to sustained progress back to his best form.

The 37-year-old made it two victories in four starts on the US PGA Tour as he registered his biggest triumph since 2009 with success in the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami.

He heads to Bay Hill to defend his Arnold Palmer Invitational later this month before setting his sights on the Masters as he seeks to add to his 14-major haul for the first time since 2008.

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On all but one of the seven occasions Woods has recorded multiple wins in a season, he has won a major, and the American believes his game is back on an upward curve.

“I felt towards the end of last year that I was heading that direction where things were becoming better,” said Woods who, having gone more than two years without a victory, now has five in the last 12 months.

“I look at the three venues where I won last year, they were all very good golf courses and I think winning at Torrey (Pines – in the Farmers Insurance Open in January) and then winning in Miami have been on some pretty tough tracks.

“Bay Hill can play easy but we didn’t have it easy on Sunday (last year); it was more like a US Open in Orlando.

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“That gave me so much confidence heading into the off-season that I was heading in the right direction.

“I just keep going, keep plugging along, keep working with the things that Sean (Foley, his coach) wants me to do, and lo and behold, I’ve had two really good weeks this year. Any time I can win prior to Augusta always feels good. I’ve been able to do it a few times throughout my career, which is nice.”

Woods benefited from an impromptu putting lesson from Steve Stricker, who regularly leads the greens statistics, and, as a result, had just 100 putts in 72 holes.

“I’ve been putting at home and just still hadn’t felt right. I was still a little bit off but to have Stricks help me out like that, just like he always does, he’s a great friend.”

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Woods finished on 19 under par, after a final round 71, ironically two shots clear of Stricker, while Graeme McDowell, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia finished on 14 under.

The final round saw a welcome return to form for world No 1 Rory McIlroy, who finished eighth after a final-round 65.