Tiger Woods Wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Again

Tim Finchem can exhale: the PGA Tour recession has just ended.

Perhaps the most famous athlete ever, Tiger Woods re-emerged in his hometown of Orlando, Florida to hoist the Bay Hill Invitational trophy for the sixth time. Tiger winning again was doubted by none, but doing it so soon after his mandatory medical sabbatical from the game, was a pleasant surprise.

Tiger is so important to the financial health of golf, that he personally hosted a foursome of fence-sitting CEOs at his home-course recently in a Tim Finchem-organized attempt to close long-term sponsorship deals for the PGA Tour.

Once again, the competition for Tiger turned out to be anything but.

This year's victim was a poor kid who was voted rookie of the year in 2005 and has since changed everything in an attempt to emulate Tiger's golf swing. Building a high-tech golf lab in his home has nearly accomplished the task. As Sean O'Hair's split screen swing comparison can be synchronized perfectly with Tiger's, and every angle matched throughout.

What he, and apparently every other professional player, have failed to realize is that Tiger doesn't win with his golf swing, he wins with his putting, Jedi mind tricks, and iron will. Why these traits cannot be emulated by the other players, is anyone's guess.

As I sympathetically watch another domination of Tiger's final group playing partner, I recall the movie "The Princess Bride." In that movie, merely the legend of the Dread Pirate Roberts makes otherwise worthy opponents cower in fear.

Even though the original Dread Pirate Roberts has been comfortably retired for years and the current incarnation is an impostor, the same effect is present.

Physically, this is not quite the same Tiger who has owned the fairways of every professional venue for 15 years, and it certainly wasn't at last year's US Open. Although we all marvel at Eldrick's physique, his shot-making ability has been absent for over a year.

Even during today's final round three-under par 67, he mis-hit shot after shot and was victorious, thanks to the jelly-spined collapse of his star struck opponent, who was spotted a five stroke lead to begin the round.

It was as if Tiger playfully swung left-handed for much of the round just to determine his foe's ability, and after an exhaustive defensive round by O'Hair, Tiger switched to his natural right-handed posture to finish him off.

Here's the cold shower for Tiger Woods fans before they explode with the excitement of another dominating season: the field was quite weak. Also, O'Hair's final round collapse was Van De Veld-ish.

Only six of the top 20 players in the world competed this week, most opting for the Tiger-less event next week, in an attempt to build a little confidence going into the Masters. Also, Bay Hill is practically Tiger's home course, the perfect venue in which to assert his dominance.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is typically used by Tiger as a warm-up event for the Masters, which begins April 6 in Augusta, Georgia. He has won both events in the same season twice.

Top Professionals from all over the world either play in this event or next week's Shell Huston Open to prepare themselves for Augusta. Players who otherwise may not be invited to the Masters can win one of these events and score a last minute spot.

After this dramatic, come-from-behind victory I am still not sure this is the real Dread Pirate Roberts. But if nobody will even attempt to stand up to the legendary one, it really doesn't matter.

Next Week's Shell Huston Open will have lower fan interest without Tiger in the field, but a much stronger overall group of competitors.

I just hope some of them show up in Augusta ready to fend off a wounded Tiger attack.