Tiger Woods shot a final-round 70 to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by two shots, tying Sam Snead’s record of eight wins at the same event.

With the win, the third of Woods’ 2013 season, he will also move back into his familiar ranking of No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings, which he held for a record 623-straight weeks.

“It’s a byproduct of hard work, patience and getting back to winning golf tournaments,” Woods said after the event.

The win gives Woods his 77th career PGA Tour victory, creeping ever closer to Snead’s all-time record of 82.

Final-round playing partner Rickie Fowler hung with Woods almost shot for shot deep into the back nine, but faltered on No. 16 after he hit two straight shots into the water.  Fowler closed with a final-round 74, finishing in a four-way tie for third place with Keegan Bradley, Mark Wilson and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

Woods has now won six of his last 19 stroke play tournaments, including three wins in his first five appearances in the 2013 season.

Despite wind, rain, thunderstorms and demolished TV towers on Sunday forcing an early finish on Monday, Woods maintained his focus for a 2-shot victory over Justin Rose, extending his record to 46-2 when holding a 54-hole lead at a PGA Tour event.

Woods’ momentous win comes just two weeks before the Masters, the season’s first major. As a four-time defending champion sitting atop the FedEx Cup rankings and Official World Gold rankings, Tiger is sure to be the heavy favorite at Augusta.

Rose and Woods will now head to the Tavistock Cup at Isleworth Golf Club to represent Team Albany in the adjusted format on Tuesday, accounting for the Monday finish at Bay Hill. Rickie Fowler will represent Team Oak Tree National.

Click here to see photos of the clubs Woods had in the bag this week at Bay Hill.