Tiger Woods Favored to Win the Masters After His First Victory Since 2009

It took two and a half years, but Tiger Woods is a winner once again.

Woods picked up his first PGA Tour win since Sept. 2009, as he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational this past weekend.

Woods won the event by five strokes, beating out Graeme McDowell.

The golfer was very happy to pick up his first win in such a long time.

I've won here on a few occasions going into Augusta which has always been a good feeling. I still have some work to do but I'm excited about the things that we have accomplished.

Woods recorded his 72nd career victory just two weeks before the Masters. The golfer is just four behind Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championship wins.

It once seemed like a guarantee that Woods would break Nicklaus' mark. Now, many wonder if he will ever win another Major.

Despite Woods' recent struggles, he's considered by many bookmakers to be the favorite to win at Augusta. Sportsbook.com lists him as a 4-to-1 favorite to win the tournament. On Sunday morning, before Wood's win, he was a 7-to-1 favorite, according to Darren Rovell of CNBC.

Woods is now sixth in the World Golf Rankings. Top ranked Luke Donald has the fourth-best odds to win the first Major of the year. Rory McIlroy is ranked second in the world, and has the second-best odds to win the Masters.

The last Major Woods won was the U.S. Open in 2008.