TIGER WOODS confirmed he is once again a force in golf - perhaps THE force in golf - with his best finish in almost three years as Englands Paul Casey stormed to victory.
The American, 42, ended up one shot shy of Caseys ten under par total after firing a final round one under 70 at the Valspar Championship in Florida.
It could and perhaps should have been better for the 14-time Major champion.
His imperious long game over the first three days left him when he needed it most.
But the trusty putter with which he has won 13 of his Majors jolted him back into life when he sunk a 45ft birdie putt on the 17th to put him one behind playing the last.
Woods 39ft birdie try on 18 came up short, robbing him of his 80th PGA Tour title.
It is his best finish since the Wyndham Championship in 2015.
And astonishingly he is already 10-1 to win a fifth green jacket at next months Masters.
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Casey's victory was his first since 2011 as he was rewarded for being the only man to finish in double digits under par after Patrick Reed imploded on the final green.
Reed needed two putts to tie Casey but saw his first putt roll back to his feet before nearly holing his second effort.