# **Tiger's Win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational**

It have been an extended layoff and an extended victory drought for the world's number 1 player. Needless to say, that drought was not as a result of any loss of ability or desire. The knee surgery had dictated that Tiger Woods lay low for a protracted time in order to recover completely.

But, after two previous starts that showed the rust due to lack of tournament competition for the greater element of a year, Tiger got it back together in time and energy to yet again win a tournament that he's dominated within the years. He's won that event an incredible 6 times and, with that trophy, chalked up his 66th career win, a complete that boggles the mind given the present state of competition in professional golf. And it places him in the very top echelon of the games history, with only Jack Nicklaus, with 73 career victories and Sam Snead with 82 ahead of him.

At 33 years of age, Tiger Woods has many years of professional golf ahead of him, barring injuries. And given the sort of statistics he's routinely amassed during his relatively brief career, it would appear that no [tiger711](https://www.tiger711.com/) established mark is too far away for him to achieve. With 14 major titles under his belt, he is just 4 behind the record total of Jack Nicklaus, who holds 18 major titles. For any player, saying 'only 4 behind' could be bordering on being humorous. The great majority of players never win 4 major titles inside their entire careers, however when we're discussing Tiger, all bets are off.

Bear in mind that he's only been on tour since 1997. That is his twelfth year. Meaning he's averaged 5.5 wins a year and a lot better than 1 major a year during that time. One also needs to take into consideration layoffs during that period for injuries and a couple of major swing changes. Assuming exactly the same numbers over another 7 years he could theoretically pile up some 35 more wins and 7 more majors. That total is stunning, true, but it could happen. Even dropping the bar considerably, say to on average 3 wins a year and just 5 total majors will give him a complete of 87 wins and 19 majors.

Obviously, we'll need to see what happens. But it's fun to conjecture and it sure is fun to view the person who's arguably the very best player in the annals of the overall game perform his wizardry on the golf course.

One thing's for certain; Tiger's win at Bay Hill thrust him back once again to the most effective of his profession. After watching last year's US Open win on what was essentially one leg, could anyone doubt his drive and determination? His game, somewhat rickety following the long layoff, showed signs to getting back the groove at Bay Hill. And it probably will only get better.

I felt sorry for Sean O'Hair for the reason that drama after he'd played so well before enduring Sunday's meltdown. But he can take solace in the truth that he wasn't the first to ever falter under the palpable pressure of playing against Tiger Woods on the ultimate day.