Golf:World number one Tiger Woods will make his long-awaited comeback at next month's Masters. The news comes just 25 days after the 34-year-old said he might not play this year but has instead confirmed he will tee it up at Augusta National in Georgia from April 8th-11th.
“The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it’s been a while since I last played,” said Woods in today’s brief statement.
“I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment.
“Although I’m returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life.”
He added: “When I finally got into a position to think about competitive golf again, it became apparent to me that The Masters would be the earliest I could play.
“I called both Joe Lewis and Arnold Palmer and expressed my regrets for not attending the Tavistock Cup (next Monday and Tuesday) and the Arnold Palmer Invitational (from March 25-28).
“I again want to thank them both for their support and their understanding. Those are fantastic tournaments and I look forward to competing in them again.
“I would also like to thank the Augusta National members and staff for their support. I have deep appreciation for everything that they do to create a wonderful event for the benefit of the game.”
Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said in a separate statement: “We support Tiger’s decision to return to competitive golf beginning at this year’s Masters tournament.
“Additionally, we support and encourage his stated commitment to continue the significant work required to rebuild his personal and professional life.”
Woods’ decision was anticipated after PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem spoke in Miami on Sunday.
“I’m as excited as everybody else to see him back I hope this spring, but my sense is we’ll know pretty soon,” said Finchem.
“Everybody’s done looking back at the circumstances that resulted in him stepping away from the game and (are) now focused on when he’s going to play golf.
“I think that’s good. I think that means people are paying attention to what he said.
“It’s going to be huge when he comes back and it’s going to be an interesting thing - how he re-enters the game, how he plays, how he deals with the reaction to his statement.”
Woods last played on November 15th, winning the Australian Masters in Melbourne and taking his total of professional victories to 92.
He was involved in controversy there when he threw his driver in anger and it bounced into the crowd.
Twelve days later came the car crash outside his home which put him first into hospital and then into hiding as a sex scandal erupted.
Woods admitted to “transgressions” on his website, then used the same forum to announce he was taking an indefinite break from the game to try to save his marriage.
It was not until February 19th that he finally made a public appearance.
It was merely to read a statement rather than answer questions, however, and only towards the end of his 13-minute guilt-ridden, apology-laden address to family and friends at the headquarters of the PGA Tour did he actually mention his career.
“I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don’t know when that day will be,” he said.
“I don’t rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behaviour more respectful of the game.”
Not ruling out that it would be this year hinted that his lay-off would go on for many months at least, yet within days there was speculation that he was gearing up for a comeback much sooner than that.
Statement: Tiger Woods
“The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it’s been a while since I last played.
“I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment. Although I’m returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life.
“When I finally got into a position to think about competitive golf again, it became apparent to me that the Masters would be the earliest I could play. I called both Joe Lewis and Arnold Palmer and expressed my regrets for not attending the Tavistock Cup and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. I again want to thank them both for their support and their understanding. Those are fantastic tournaments and I look forward to competing in them again.
“I would also like to thank the Augusta National members and staff for their support. I have deep appreciation for everything that they do to create a wonderful event for the benefit of the game.”
Timeline: Tiger Woods - How the drama unfolded
2009:
November 27:
Reports emerge that Woods has been injured in a car accident near his Florida home after colliding with a fire hydrant and a tree. He was not seriously hurt. US gossip websites begin speculating that the incident may be connected to reports earlier that week in the National Enquirer alleging an affair with New York nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel.
November 28:Florida Highway Patrol say they have been unable to speak to Woods and his wife, Elin, about the incident.
November 29:Woods enlists lawyer Mark Nejame to represent him. Woods releases a statement on his website admitting full blame for the incident. The release continued: "I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again. This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way."
November 30:Woods announces he will miss his own tournament, the Chevron World Challenge.
December 1:Woods issued with a traffic citation for careless driving and a $164 fine. Officials declare the investigation over.
December 2:US Weekly runs an interview with waitress Jaimee Grubbs, who claims she had a two-and-a-half-year affair with the golfer. Woods pens a new, emotional statement on his website. Comments include: "I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart."
December 3:Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik says he owes Elin Nordegren an apology for introducing her to Woods in 2001. "We probably thought he was a better guy than he is," Parnevik says. Uchitel, who previously denied reports she had an affair with Woods, cancels a planned press conference.
December 4 to 11: A flurry of claims are made by other women alleging to have had a fling with Woods. Among those alleged to have bedded the golfer are a porn star and a pancake house waitress. At least 10 women have been linked to Woods in tabloids and US showbiz websites.
December 8:Sports drink firm Gatorade become the first company to drop their endorsement of Woods.
December 9:Adverts featuring Woods are found to have disappeared from prime-time US television broadcasts.
December 11:Woods releases most personal statement yet, saying he is taking an "indefinite break" from golf and apologising for his "infidelity".
December 13:Gillette announce they are scaling back their use of Woods in their advertising campaigns while Accenture drop the golfer altogether.
December 18:Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer announce they will "downscale the use" of Woods' image in their campaigns during his absence from golf.
December 31: American telecommunications giant AT&T end their sponsorship deal with Woods.
2010
February 3:Eight-time major winner Tom Watson calls on Woods to "show some humility" as a player and apologise for his off-course behaviour before returning to golf.
February 12:Speculation mounts that Woods will enter the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona, but he does not.
February 19:Woods issues an emotional apology for cheating on wife Elin. Addressing a gathering of selected journalists, friends and colleagues, he also reveals he has set no timescale for a return to golf, but does not rule out coming back at some stage this year.
March 16:Woods announces he will return to golf at the Masters, which starts on April 8.