There were a few stories making their way around the PGA Tour as the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship drew to a close. One was the newly-discovered “Stricker Method,” in which a golfer reduces his schedule to spend more time with his family, then proceeds to challenge in every event he plays. Another was the trial period of Rory McIlroy, which may have ended with his 7-under 65 on Sunday at Doral. No doubt the early-season success of new faces like Michael Thompson, Russell Henley and John Merrick has piqued the interest of golf followers across the nation.

And then we consider the first two-time winner of the 2013 Tour season. Tiger Woods won by four strokes at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January and emerged as champion again this week, by two strokes over the elite field at the WGC-Cadillac Championship. His play has sparked embers of debate over whether he will continue to win common events (adding to his total of 76 Tour victories) or if he is prepared to return to the podium reserved for major championship winners. The second week of April can’t arrive quickly enough.

If Tiger Woods were a boxer, the judges would have awarded him a TKO based on winning each of the first three rounds. After signing for 66, 65 and 67 (each tied for low round) the first three days, Tiger arrived at the first tee on Sunday with a four-stroke advantage on the field. His fellow first-round leaders turned in admirable performances, with all finishing in the top 20 — McDowell and Garcia at tied-3, Freddie Jacobson at tied-16 and Bubba Watson at tied-18.

Charl Schwartzel, who matched Woods’ second-round 65, looked poised to mount a Sunday charge after a Saturday 67 brought him to top-five status after the third round. The South African collapsed over his final front nine with four consecutive bogies, on the way to a wretched 75 and a tie for 16th place. Michael Thompson’s third-day 67 brought him even with Schwartzel but the previous week’s winner failed to make a birdie Sunday until No. 15, turning in a taupe 73 for a tied-8 finish.

Over the course of the first 15 holes Sunday, Woods did what we have come to expect him to do: play solid, unspectacular golf; build slightly on his lead and dare the field to chase him down. Woods marked three birdies and 12 pars on his card during that stretch. On Sunday, only three players made seven or more birdies and none of them ever reached Tiger’s area code.

Tigers winning WITB photos

Adam Scott turned in a brilliant final round, mixing eight birdies and no bogeys into a tournament-low 64. McIlroy massaged an eagle and five birdies into a season-low 65. Matteo Manassero stood at -8 along the final fairway before plunging into the waters of a double-bogey and 66 on the day. None of the golfers who stood a chance at dawn’s break were able to muster a challenge, although part-time golfer Steve Stricker made ripples.

Graeme McDowell, Tiger’s partner each of the weekend rounds, balanced four birdies with two bogeys and a closing double to tie for third, five shots off the pace. Phil Mickelson did the same, pairing three bogeys with four birdies to finish in the same position. After a banal start, Stricker ran off four birdies from Nos. 5 through 13 to reach 4-under for the day. As with Mickelson and McDowell (both of whom birdied the first two holes), Stricker was unable to preserve the momentum, closing with five pars for a tidy, second-place check.

Over the course of the week, Tiger Woods notched 27 birdies into his bag strap, on the way to claiming career Tour title No. 27. His victory was his fourth at Doral. Statistically, Woods was second in the field in putts per round and strokes gained putting. He tied for seventh in greens in regulation and bested half the field in driving distance and accuracy. Most importantly, Woods closed out his second of two 54-hole leads of the 2013 Tour season. Final rounds of 72 and 71 were good enough for victory at San Diego and Miami.

These benign closing efforts beg the only question that remains: What will Tiger do when pushed in the final round? Will he elevate his game yet again or will he succumb to the pressure? Career trends point toward the former, although the later would certainly make for a more compelling story (as in, we might finally have some drama.)

Despite the occasional Rich Beem or Y.E. Yang, the only a handful players on Tour today, including Mickelson and McIlroy have a chance to overcome Woods. Both might be rounding into form, though it is safe to say that Tiger will be the betting favorite at Augusta National for the Masters. If Woods can preserve the long game he showed at Doral and continue to putt with authority and confidence, his chances of being fitted for a fifth green jacket grow stronger.

Tigers winning WITB photos