Just two weeks ahead of the 2001 US Masters, Tiger Woods achieved victory at Bay Hill, taking him out of what one American writer has described as "a slump".

Certainly Tiger, having won virtually half of the events he played in 2000, had not won since last autumn, but had still scored almost 100 below par for those tournaments he had entered.

The concern raised over Tiger's performances and the erratic behaviour of his swing was understandable, for almost all thought he was infallible.

The question is, can Tiger be the player he was in 2000?

Even his victory at Bay Hill seemed flawed, as did his recent win at the Players' Championship in Sawgrass.

Only his cool head and ability to pull off near miracle shots when the pressure is at its greatest saw him through at Bay Hill.

He then needed Vijay Singh to falter with a seven at the 14th at Sawgrass to eventually win by one stroke.

Tiger's former high, wide golf-swing, which to most appeared flawless, has been deliberately sacrificed in search for one suited to the demands of Augusta.

Why, having won The Masters in 1997 by 12 shots, shattering almost every Augusta record, should he feel the need to change anything?

Wishing to create the ideal ball flight for the course, high with a slight draw spin from right to left, Tiger has lowered the plane of his wing, taking the club more around his body.

Of late, some of the results have made this decision questionable.

In Dubai, where a birdie at the last would have given him first win this year, the tee shot, which required exactly the ball flight mentioned, resulted in a push into an awful trouble and a humiliating double bogey finish.

Even when winning at Bay Hill he missed about every fairway of the closing nine.

Tiger has other problems that might stop his dream coming true - the form of some of the opposition.