Tiger Woods has confirmed he will make his long-awaited return to professional golf at the end of November after revealing he is to play in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
Former world number one Woods has been absent from the game due to a persistent back injury, but following months of hinting he was closing in a return to golf via a series of social media posts and videos, the American has announced he is a month away from a comeback.
Tiger Woods to return from injury
The 41-year-old Woods revealed in a tweet that he will play in the Hero World Challenge, his own event which takes place in the Bahamas between November 30 and December 3 this year and features a select field of just 18 players.
Announcing his participation, Woods tweeted: “I’d like to thank the committee of 1 for picking myself and Daniel Berger to play in this year’s #HeroWorldChallenge.”
In addition to Daniel Berger, the current world top four of Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama and Justin Thomas are also set to play.
Woods later posted a statement on his official website adding: “I am excited to return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge. Albany is the perfect setting and it will be great to join this outstanding field.
“I want to thank Pawan Munjal and Hero MotoCorp for their continued support of this tournament and my foundation. I would also like to thank the fans for their unwavering support during my injury.”
If 14-time major winner Woods does line-up in the Hero World Challenge, it will be his first tournament appearance in nine months since his latest attempt to return from the back injury was aborted during the Dubai Desert Classic in February.
Fans have been desperate to see Woods return to the game with the American having spent the vast majority of the last four years on the sidelines following four separate back surgeries, the most recent of which was in January.
The 79-time PGA TOUR winner had only just previously made a return to the game competitively in December 2016, promising his body had never felt as good in years…but it proved to be false hope from Woods.
Woods has not won since lifting the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational title in 2013 more than four years ago.
The last of Woods’ 14 majors, a figure just four short of Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record, came over nine years ago in the 2008 U.S. Open. But he has won only 14 more tournaments since that U.S. Open success, and spent a lengthy time out injured.
The comeback would add another chapter to an eventful year for Woods, who was arrested by police in Florida after being found asleep at the wheel of his car on a freeway. Subsequent video footage of his arrest was viewed by millions.
Woods was initially thought to be have been arrested for drink driving, but later revealed he had blown zero on the test. However, he was arrested for Driving Under Influence (DUI), something he blamed on taking regular medication incorrectly. A toxicology report revealed five separate substances were present in his system.
