Tiger Woods will make his return to competitive golf in December at the 2017 Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.
The Hero World Challenge is an 18-player event which benefits Woods' foundation and is run by his TGR Live tournament-management company. The exclusive event has 16 spots reserved for players based on their place in the Official World Golf Ranking, leaving two exemptions available to Woods and his foundation. Woods gave himself an exemption, as well one to Daniel Berger, who was a star on the US Presidents Cup team at the end of September in New Jersey.
“I am excited to return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge,” Woods said in a statement. “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.”
The tournament begins Nov. 30 and ends on Dec. 3. There is no cut. Hideki Matsuyama is defending champion.
Woods is a five-time winner of the event, which has been played at several other venues, including Sherwood Country Club. He's been teasing a return to competitive golf with a series of social media videos showing a number of swings, beginning with pitch shots and working toward the Stinger.
This will mark Woods' first competitive golf since withdrawing from the European Tour's Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February. After a first-round 77, Woods pulled out. He looked in significant pain, and then backed out of several planned starts. In April, Woods underwent a fourth back procedure in four years, with a spinal fusion of two vertebrae in his back.
2017 Hero World Challenge field
- Dustin Johnson
- Jordan Spieth
- Hideki Matsuyama
- Justin Thomas
- Jason Day
- Rickie Fowler
- Brooks Koepka
- Matt Kuchar
- Justin Rose
- Alex Noren
- Marc Leishman
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Francesco Molinari
- Patrick Reed
- Charley Hoffman
- Kevin Kisner
- Tiger Woods
- Daniel Berger
