India's Arjun Atwal says World No 1 Tiger Woods was instrumental in helping him regain his form after he ended a five-year title drought with victory at the Malaysian Open.

Atwal, 34, edged Swede Peter Hedblom in a playoff after a final round 64 allowed him to surge up the leaderboard at the Kota Permai Golf Club on Sunday, regaining the title he first won in 2003.

The victory in the co-sanctioned event gave the US-based player his third success on the European Tour and seventh on the Asian Tour. The 2003 Asian Tour number one and first Indian to play on the US PGA Tour, Atwal is regrouping after a career slump over the last two years, during which he was hampered by a back injury and a police probe into a car accident in the US.

"I don't know how to put it in words," an emotional Atwal told reporters. "To come out of that and win, it's great for me personally." 

He said the world number one had played a prominent role in helping him reshape his game. "I belong to the same club as Tiger in Orlando and he's been a big help," he said.

"Just practising with him and watching him work the way he does is motivation enough for me. For him to come and help me with my swing and more on the fitness factor has been really big for me.
"He doesn't give me lessons but anytime I have problems, I can ask him and he'll help me out," he said. "If you get anything from the world number one, you'll take it gladly."

Atwal said his priority still remained on the US circuit. "I want to get my PGA Tour card back," he said. “But having won this, I have to reassess my schedule but it's too early to talk about that."