The Australian, 28, led from start-to-finish but there were tough times -- and when he needed strength, it was Woods's words of wisdom echoing around his head.
"Be yourself, stay in your world," was Woods's mantra. He should know -- the former world No. 1 won eight times at Bay Hill.
It worked, as Day ground out victory by one shot from American Kevin Chappell in Orlando, Florida.
Day's eighth PGA Tour title lifted him one place above Rory McIlroy in the world rankings to No. 2 behind Jordan Spieth.
And it reconfirmed his status as one of the favorites for the U.S. Masters at Augusta next month despite a lackluster start to the season.
It worked, as Day ground out victory by one shot from American Kevin Chappell in Orlando, Florida.
Day's eighth PGA Tour title lifted him one place above Rory McIlroy in the world rankings to No. 2 behind Jordan Spieth.
And it reconfirmed his status as one of the favorites for the U.S. Masters at Augusta next month despite a lackluster start to the season.
'Idolizing'
Day has turned to the injured Woods for advice on numerous occasions of late, and the pair were in touch throughout the tournament hosted by the 86-year-old Palmer.
"We were trading texts back and forth all week, obviously words of wisdom because he's played well here," Day told his victory news conference.
"It's the same thing. Just be yourself and stay in your world.
"But to be able to hear what he has to say and his advice and how much he believes in me really means a lot, especially coming from the best.
"It gives me so much confidence that a person like that would believe in me, especially as a kid I was idolizing him ever since watching him in '97 win the Masters for the first time and all of a sudden I'm playing the Tour and I'm pretty close with him now."
"We were trading texts back and forth all week, obviously words of wisdom because he's played well here," Day told his victory news conference.
"It's the same thing. Just be yourself and stay in your world.
"But to be able to hear what he has to say and his advice and how much he believes in me really means a lot, especially coming from the best.
"It gives me so much confidence that a person like that would believe in me, especially as a kid I was idolizing him ever since watching him in '97 win the Masters for the first time and all of a sudden I'm playing the Tour and I'm pretty close with him now."
