Tiger Woods
will make his return to competitive golf at the World Golf Championships -
Accenture Match Play Championship, Feb. 23 - March 1, at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club,
Dove Mountain, after knee surgery caused him to miss eight months of
competition. Woods will be part of a field that is expected to feature the top
64 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, including Sergio Garcia, Padraig
Harrington, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson. The top 64 from the World Ranking
released on Feb. 16 have until 5 p.m. ET tomorrow (Feb. 20) to officially commit
to the tournament. Brackets will be released on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. ET,
when they become official.
"Elin and
our new son Charlie are doing great," Woods wrote on his Web site. "I've
enjoyed my time at home with the family and appreciate everyone's support and
kind wishes.
"I'm now ready to play again," he concluded.
Woods will return to Marana, Ariz., as defending champion and a three-time winner at the Accenture Match Play Championship, with victories in 2003, 2004 and 2008. Fifteen of his 65 PGA Tour victories have come at World Golf Championship events in 26 career starts. Woods is the all-time money leader in the series, earning $20,825,833. He also has the most match wins (31) in Accenture Match Play Championship history.
Woods won four of the six tournaments that he started in 2008, including his dramatic playoff victory over Rocco Mediate at the U.S. Open, before shutting it down for knee surgery.
"We are delighted that Tiger is returning to competition and look forward to watching him compete next week," said PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem.
"We are thrilled Tiger Woods will be here to defend his title," said Accenture Match Play Championship Executive Director Wade Dunagan. "Tiger has been the dominant player in this tournament's history and in all of the World Golf Championship events. Combine Woods' return with our new venue at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, a field that includes some of the best young players the game has seen in quite some time and players who have taken the stage in Tiger's absence, and this has the makings of the most exciting event in this tournament's history."
Tickets to the Accenture Match Play Championship may be purchased by visiting www.worldgolfchampionships.com or by calling 1-866-WGC-AMPC.