Golf: Omens look good for confident Woods

Tiger Woods

MIAMI - Four-times champion Tiger Woods goes into this week's Bay Hill Invitational golf championship in Orlando, Florida, as overwhelming favourite to win his fourth title of the year.

Also in the Bay Hill field for his second PGA Tour outing of the year will be New Zealand's US Open champion Michael Campbell.

Woods, the world No 1, has exuded confidence over the last two months and appears to have regained the aura of dominance he enjoyed in 1999 and 2000.

"I'm able to hit so many more golf shots now than I could last year at this time and, on top of that, I can fix it while I'm out there playing," said Woods after winning the Doral Championship in Miami two weeks ago.

"Last year at this time, I had so many things I was still working on that I had a hard time fixing it because if I hit one shot, it could be three or four different things I needed to work on to try and rectify that shot.

"Now I know exactly what to do and I can rectify it on the very next shot. I'm playing with a lot of confidence."

Woods, whose six PGA Tour victories last year included the US Masters and British Open, has won three times in his first five tournaments of 2006.

Although two came via play-offs, he always seemed to be in overall charge.

"I look at it this way, I put myself there," said Woods, who also won the Buick Invitational in San Diego in January before clinching the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic the following week.

"If I put myself there enough times, those things are going to happen." Asked to rate his confidence with the US Masters three weeks away, Woods replied: "Pretty high, considering I've put myself there in virtually every event."

All the signs point towards a record fifth Bay Hill victory for the 30-year-old American, who will enjoy the added benefit of home comforts this week.

"It's always nice to be able to sleep in my own bed," said Woods, who lives about 10 minutes from the Bay Hill Club.

"Plus, the tournament is hosted by Arnold Palmer, and I have nothing but respect for him. He's done so much for the game."

Apart from Woods, six other members of the world's top 10 are playing this week. The absentees are fourth-ranked Phil Mickelson, David Toms (seventh) and Luke Donald (10th), who won last week's Honda Classic.

American Kenny Perry is also not playing. The world number 16 had knee surgery on Monday.

- REUTERS