Tiger Woods sent out a warning to his rivals as he fought back to claim the Arnold Palmer Invitational in only his third tournament since his return from a knee operation.

The world No1 began the final day at Bay Hill five shots off overnight leader Sean O'Hair but a round of 67, sealed with a 15-foot birdie putt at the final hole, gave him a one-shot win over his fellow American.

O'Hair buckled under the pressure of playing with Woods and shot a 73 and when the champion was asked how his rivals dealt with playing against him in that situation, he said: “I'm trying to beat them just how they're trying to beat me. It doesn't change.

“It's just about being there and somehow timing it right and making putts at the right time and pulling off shots at the right time. We're all trying to do it. It's just fun.

“Some guys put themselves in contention more times than others, but still, we're all trying to win tournaments.

“I hadn't been in the mix since the US Open, so it was neat to feel the heat again.

“It's like my caddie, Stevie Williams, was saying out there, this feels like we hadn't
been away.”