Woods fights off sickness for fourth Bay Hill win

Not just the rain put a dampener on the final day of the Bay Hill Invitational. Tiger Woods squelched his way towards a fourth successive victory here, but after the collapse of Ernie Els on Saturday the world No 1 soon put clear water behind him and the rest of the field.

Tiger's biggest problem was self-inflicted. Just a few days after his Swedish girlfriend Elin Nordegren went down with food poisoning, Woods succumbed as well after eating pasta at home on Saturday evening. He spent the night on his couch running to the bathroom and kept throwing up on the course yesterday.

"If I had not been in contention I would not have played," Woods said. "It was a long night and an even longer day. Every single tee shot hurt but though I was tired it did not affect my swing." Woods was the only player not to drop a shot as a closing 68 gave him an 11-stroke win, a record for the event, over a group of four players, including Brad Faxon and Stewart Cink. "Feeling how I was I am very proud of what I was able to do today," Woods added.

In the most unpleasant of conditions, Woods eagled the par-five fourth from 12 feet and by the time he birdied the seventh he led by nine. He ground the pars until a final birdie at the 17th.

This was Tiger's third win in four tournaments this season, having already captured the Buick Invitational and the World Match Play. His season started late after knee surgery but there could be no better demonstration than here this week that his form and fitness are peaking nicely for this week's Players Championship and next month's Masters.

On Saturday, needing to resume his second round from overnight, Woods played 29 holes in all and made 12 birdies. He completed a 65 in the morning that put him three clear of the field and four ahead of Els. In the afternoon Woods added a flawless 66, while playing alongside Els struggled to a 72.

With both the world's top-two players looking in such fine form quite a duel was expected over the last 36 holes. It did not materialise partly because Els was still feeling the wrist which he hurt working on his punch bag at Wentworth a week ago. For those hoping Els would be the man to challenge Woods this year it was a disappointing day.

"I was disappointed, too," Els said. "I didn't feel comfortable today but I still feel I have the game to cope with playing with Tiger. I will have to learn from my mistakes today." The South African slumped to a 77 yesterday to finish 19 strokes behind Woods.

While Justin Rose suffered a 10 at the sixth hole yesterday when he found the water three times, Colin Montgomerie managed a 72. "At least I was here on a Sunday," said the Monty who made the cut for the first time this season.

Monty then headed for Augusta where he will play the course today and then join his coach Denis Pugh at Sawgrass tomorrow as he continues to adjust to his new clubs.