There is much that is startling about the career of Tiger Woods, not least that before yesterday the world No1 had won 50 of 56 tournaments worldwide in which he had held at least a share of the lead entering the final round. Which is why, when he made up seven strokes with a third round of 66 to draw level with four others at the top of the leaderboard at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on Saturday, few expected anything other than a Woods victory - his seventh on the trot - by the end.

Among the six players to have taken him on and won in such circumstances, however, was Lee Westwood, who trailed Woods by two strokes after 54 holes at the Deutsche Bank tournament in Germany in 2000, before coming through to beat him by four. By coincidence, the Englishman went into the final round here in a similar position, two strokes off the lead, on four under par, and confident that he could mount an effective challenge.

In 2000, Westwood won five times and usurped Colin Montgomerie as the European No1. He climbed to No4 in the world (behind Woods, David Duval and Montgomerie), but while Woods set about rewriting the record books, Westwood lost his way, at one point plummeting to No 266.

Now, with added power and a hugely improved short game, Westwood, at 34, belongs among the higher echelons again. At the start of last week, he was No 20 in the world and is certain to move higher. Whatever the outcome yesterday, Westwood knows his game is in good shape for what lies ahead - the WGCCA Championship at Doral, Florida, this week and, more importantly, the Masters, in little more than three weeks' time.