REBECCA COOK / Reuters

Tiger Woods watches his shot from the eighth tee box. Woods won the Buick Open on Sunday.

He shot a 71 in the first round and said it was probably the worst putting performance of his career, leading to him skipping his post-round practice session because he was so mad.

It only added to his legacy because he went from a tie for 95th to a victory, the largest jump he’s made from the first round in a tournament he ended up winning.

Woods roared back into contention with the best five-hole start of his career — beginning 6 under in the second round — en route to a 9-under 63 for his best score in relation to par in four years.

He hit the ball relatively poor in the third round, but made enough clutch shots to finish with a 65 and take a one-shot lead into Sunday.

The three-shot victory was his most lopsided since winning the 2008 Buick Invitational by eight.

He took advantage of the easy course and weak field as expected. The six players who finished within five shots of Woods have a combined four titles.

“He’s just laughing at all of us,” Letzig said. “I wish he’d stop coming to the tournaments I’m coming to. Seriously, though, I love it.”

Woods, whose previous three wins this year were each by one shot, spent much of Sunday with a two-shot cushion before he took a three-stroke lead with the birdie at No. 16.

His businesslike final round included three birdies and no bogeys and won without trailing in the final round for the first time since Bay Hill in 2008.

Competition and courses are about to get much tougher.

Woods will play at the Bridgestone Invitational next before going to Hazeltine for the PGA Championship, his final chance to win a major this year.

He is set to compete in two straight tournaments going into a major for the first time in his career.

“I feel good,” Woods said. “The win helps.”