Tiger Woods glad to be in the hunt

Tiger Woods in Florida (GETTY IMAGES)

Tiger Woods enjoyed himself in the Florida sunshine yesterday. With a three-under-par 69, the former world No 1 was three off the clubhouse lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Woods, in his last event before the Masters in two weeks, is a six-time winner of the Bay Hill title. With his only dropped shot coming at the three-putted short 17th (his eighth), Woods will draw much confidence from a round that was four strokes better than Phil Mickelson's.

England's Justin Rose, winner of the recent WGC event in Miami, also had a 69 and Ernie Els – hoping to rejoin the world's top 50 and qualify for Augusta via a top-three finish – shot 71, six behind pacesetter Charlie Wi.