Tiger Woods sends message to Rory McIlroy about who will rule the waves

Tiger Woods poses with the winner’s traditional surfboard (Getty Images)

Tiger Woods not only scattered the field with his record eighth victory in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in California on Monday, he proved that he is still the reference point at the heart of golf. "I don't know if anybody would have beaten him this week," said Nick Watney, who chased Woods for most of the tournament before finishing fourth. "He's definitely on his game."

Hunter Mahan, who also works with Woods's coach, Sean Folley, said: "I think he wanted to send a message. I think deep down he did. You play some games to try to motivate yourself. There's been so much talk about Rory [McIlroy]. Rory is now with Nike. That would be my guess."

The world No 2, who had a commemorative "Malibu" style surfboard handed to him along with the $1.098m (£696,700) winner's cheque, could afford to drop four shots coming in and still win by four, his seventh victory at the event. "It got a little ugly towards the end. I lost my concentration a bit," Woods said.

"Playing the way I did for most of this tournament, until the last five holes, I felt like I should have won. I put myself in a position where I had a big enough lead, That is basically how I felt like I played all week."