Tiger Woods confirms return to PGA tour at Quail Hollow Championship
He took a little time off, he evaluated things. And now it seems Tiger Woods has decided to get back on the horse in earnest, announcing his plans to contest the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, starting on April 29th - that's just two weeks from now.
When Woods refused to name his next tour appearance during a post-round interview at last week's Masters, there was speculation that the golfer was planning on lying low again, perhaps until the next major - especially when the organisers of the US Open announced that Woods had submitted his entry form to the event.
But whether Woods was characteristically playing his cards close to his chest at Augusta, or the world No. 1 has simply decided he needs the practice, he has now committed to play at the PGA Tour event later this month. Woods previously won the championship in 2007.
The news comes as US Ryder Cup captain, Corey Pavin, sent mixed messages about Woods’ chances of appearing at this year's event, first calling Woods a "real Ryder Cup" man but then admitting that Woods would have to be playing well enough to earn the captain's pick, should Woods not qualify for a place on the team automatically. In five appearances for his country Woods has only been on the winning team on one occasion.
The Ryder may not be Woods' priority right now, however; since the details of his multiple infidelities have been exposed, the 34-year-old has faced a media storm of epic proportions. Though the 14-time major winner has already faced the press in recent weeks, he has largely been able to control the tone of the questions raised so far.
The likelihood as he approaches the Quail Hollow Championship is that Woods will refuse to entertain questions not pertaining to his golf, but Tiger may also find the reporters he now faces are more persistent than those he's dealt with in the past.
The fallout from Woods' behaviour continues to figure highly in terms of public, or at least media interest, his vague apologies and self-recriminations standing in broad contrast to the lurid details coming from other parties.
With thus far unconfirmed reports that Woods' wife, the model Elin Nordegren, intends to file for divorce, the golfer seems set for some interesting, if ultimately unenlightening press sessions in a fortnight.
Tags: