Seven-times tournament winning Tiger Woods is grouped with Ernie Els and Justin Rose for the opening two rounds of this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando.

Woods maintains a virtual mortgage on the tournament having being handed the trophy by host Arnold Palmer four years in succession from 2000 and then in 2008, 2009 and last year.

The 14-time Major winning American has the added incentive in this year’s 35th anniversary of the event in that he will return to No. 1 in the world should he succeed with an eighth victory.

If Woods does succeed this week he will match the PGA Tour record set by Sam Snead for the most victories in  a single tournament and with Snead winning eight Greater Greensboro Open titles (1938, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1969 and 1967).

In group immediately behind Woods there is England’s Ian Poulter, American Keegan Bradley and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell who was runner-up 12 months ago to Woods.

England’s Lee Westwood finds himself grouped with last week’s Tampa Bay Championship winner Kevin Streelman along with Jason Dufner.

On the opposite side of the draw for the $6.2m tournament reigning US Open champion, Webb Simpson will join reigning Masters title holder Bubba Watson and Bill Haas.

Brandt Snedeker returns to the PGA Tour for a first time since capturing the AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am but then being forced out the two WGC events with a rib injury.   Snedeker will play alongside Phil Mickelson and Spain’s Sergio Garcia.

Tiger Woods looking to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational for an eight time taht would tie a PGA Tour record held by Sam Snead (Greater Greensboro Open).