Tiger Woods has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill by two strokes returning to the top of the world rankings for the first time since October 2010.

Tiger Woods, 37, replaces Rory McIlroy as number one after dropping to a career-low 58th in November 2011.

His win at Bay Hill was his 77th PGA title and his third of 2013.

Tiger Woods resumed three shots clear after storms halted Sunday’s play and shot 70 to hold off England’s Justin Rose, who climbed to third in the world rankings.

“I play well here, it’s as simple as it gets,” said Tiger Woods, who became number one for the 11th time following his eighth professional win at Bay Hill.

Tiger Woods has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill by two strokes returning to the top of the world rankings for the first time since October 2010

“I’m very pleased with the way I’m playing.

“It was a by-product of hard work, patience and getting back to playing golf tournaments.”

It was Tiger Woods’s sixth title in his last 20 starts on the PGA Tour, and after wins at Doral and Torrey Pines this year, he is now clear favourite to capture his fifth Masters title when the season’s opening major begins at Augusta on 11 April.

He first became world number one in June 1997 following his maiden major victory at the Masters, aged 22.

Tiger Woods topped the rankings for 264 weeks from August 1999 to September 2004 and 281 weeks from June 2005 to October 2010.

A five-month lay-off in late 2009 after cheating scandal, a string of injuries, including four knee operations and an Achilles problem, and problems getting to grips with a new swing all contributed to Tiger Woods’ fall down the rankings.

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