Bay Hill a Breeze for Woods as He Wins by Four Strokes

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods began his march to the Masters in style.

He won the Bay Hill Invitational on Sunday by four strokes over Davis Love III, matching his largest margin of victory in a PGA Tour event since his 12-stroke romp at Augusta National three years ago.

With masterful control of his game, Woods led by at least two strokes throughout the final round. He closed with a two-under-par 70 for his third victory in six tournaments this year.

Woods, who finished at 270, won $540,000 to bring his season total to more than $2.5 million. Only he and David Duval won more money all of last year.

It was the 13th consecutive time on the PGA Tour, and 15th time around the world, that Woods had at least a share of the 54-hole lead and went on to win. It also was the third time in a row since November he faced Love and won easily.

Of course, Woods had a lot to do with that.

“I had the lead,” he said. “I figured I could put pressure on him by hitting a lot of fairways and greens. I feel pretty good about my short game right now.”

Love started the day two strokes behind and never got anything going. He birdied the 18th hole for a 72 and finished second in Arnold Palmer’s tournament for the third time.

“I made too many mistakes,” Love said. “You’re not going to beat Tiger playing like that.”

Skip Kendall had a 67 and finished third.

Woods has been pointing to the Masters since the season began, but each tournament draws him that much closer. And each round only sends a stronger message that he will be the man to beat.

Woods was 12 under on the par fives and rarely put himself in serious trouble. Whether a new winning streak is about to begin remains to be seen, but Woods always seems to give himself a chance.

He now has gone a year without finishing worse than 18th in a stroke-play tournament, and his victory at Bay Hill was his 10th in his last 16 tour events.

Love, meanwhile, will have to go back to the drawing board.

He has never beaten Woods when he has had a chance, an 0-5 record that dates to the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational, Woods’ first victory as a professional. The last two losses, both blowouts, came in match play, which is essentially what the final round was all about.

“I’ve learned my lessons,” Love said after the third round. “You’ve got to try not to get caught up in the moment.”

Sunday was one of those moments, a day bustling with excitement. Bay Hill sold more tickets than ever, the gallery forming a massive aisle to the first tee and standing four deep all the way down the 441-yard first hole.

And Love appeared to get caught up in it.

He bogeyed from the front bunker on No. 2, dropped another shot on No. 3 when his approach bounded left against the rocks guarding the water, and yet another when he failed to birdie the 530-yard fourth hole and Woods two-putted for birdie from 40 feet.

Suddenly, Woods’ lead was five.

It was a bad day for John Daly, who shot an 87. Phil Mickelson hit three in the water and took a 10 on the par-five sixth. He shot a 78.