Mar 27, 2011; Orlando, FL, USA; Tiger Woods plays from the rough of the fourth hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club

After pushing his drive on the 18th hole to the right, Tiger Woods laid up, and came very close to making a 50 foot par putt in wining his eighth Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament on Monday afternoon. Along with the win at Bay Hill Golf and Resort comes the a number one ranking in the OWGR and a lead in FedEx Cup points. His win ties Sam Snead for eight at the same event, but as The King pointed out in a quick interview as Tiger was playing in, Slammin Sammy did it on different golf courses.

Tiger Woods did not have a particularly good day, but it was good enough to capture the win. He continues to struggle at time off of the tee, and puts a lot of pressure on his short game and putter. He was one under par on the day, which started at the third hole, and two under for the round. He missed a birdie opportunity at his first hole today, but made up for it at four. He made the turn at 34, and went even par on the back nine.

Several players made mini runs, and playing partner, Rickie Fowler warmed up at the ninth hole, making his first birdie of the round. Fowler, dressed in his Sunday orange, actually tried to apply some pressure on Woods on the back nine. He rolled in a 20 foot birdie putt on the 12th hole, and for one moment, was within on stroke. Tiger rolled his birdie putt in right on top of Fowlers, and pushed the lead back to two. That was as close as he would ever get.

Rickie began to unravel a bit on the 15th hole. with a bogey five on the par 4 hole, but Tiger also made bogey. The sixteenth hole was where Fowler had the meltdown. His second shot to the short par five came up short, and made the water. When he dropped in the fairway at 80 yards, his ball semi plugged in the soft turf, and he hit that one in the water. When the dust settled, he would make a snowman, and Tiger a birdie.

Woods’ concern at that point was Justin Rose, who was making a mini run, but would end up two strokes back when it was over, and in sole possession of second place.

Fowler had a problem with his irons this week, and pulled too many to the left. It put hi, out of position on the layout near Orlando, where there is a premium on fairway position. He would end up at -8 under par, and in a tie for third place.

Tiger Woods has won three tournaments in 2013, and six in his last 20. That’s a career for some professional golfers. I’ll let you decide if you think he indeed is back.

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Jan 24, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Rickie Fowler (right) and Tiger Woods wait to putt on the 18th hole during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

If this doesn’t look like vintage Tiger Woods to you, I’m not sure what planet you have been on since the 2013 season got underway back in January. He has won five of the last 19 events in which he has played, and looking for his third victory of the year at The Arnold Palmer Invitational when he tees of Sunday afternoon. Tiger has three eagles this week at Bay Hill, and six eagles on the year. He only had four eagles in all of last season.

During the broadcast on Saturday afternoon from NBC, Johnny Miller summed it up. The reason Tiger is probably going to be the greatest golfer in history when his career is finally over. He made the comment that if Tiger were to make 20 putts in a row on a particular green, he would be disappointed, and upset if he missed the 21st putt. That folks, is what makes the greatest in any sport. That is the same perfection Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson all demanded from themselves.

I had written in a blog earlier this season, that if Tiger could find some consistency with his wedges, he would indeed answer the question everyone has had for almost two years, can he return to his old form. His driver is still a little crazy at times, but he is without a doubt, one of the best scramblers, and best pressure putters I have ever seen. The key to his game returning, was being able to get his wedges close enough for a realistic look at birdie putts.

This latest success we are seeing form Tiger Woods has to strike fear in the hearts of the  flock of newer golfers on the PGA Tour. I remember an interview with one of them a couple of years ago saying the Tiger mystic was gone. Players didn’t fear him like they did in the early part of his career when he was dominating. The Tiger was tame now, and would never be the dominating force he once was. I wonder if Tiger heard those interviews, and now it’s time to show the young pups that he still has work to do, and there is nothing they can do, to stop him.

Justin Rose had been the dominating player all week at Bay Hill, and looked to be on Cruise Control until Tiger made the birdie at the 15th hole on Saturday. Justin looked like a deer in the headlights after he lost the lead when he made bogey at the same time on 13.

Now it’s Rickie Fowler’s turn in the barrel again. Does anyone remember the 84 Rickie shot the last time he teed off with Tiger on a Sunday at the Memorial? I’m looking for Rickie to step up today and have a great round of golf, but I don’t think it will be enough.

Tiger Woods has too much on the line Sunday. There is the eighth victory at one event, the FedEx Cup points lead, and the world number one ranking all there for the taking this afternoon. I am not expecting anything but perfection from a guy who was put on this earth for this moment.

I wonder if they are afraid of him now? A whole new generation of professional golfers are going to have a chance to do what their predecessors could not do, “Tame the Tiger”.

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