Tiger Woods has revealed that he will make his latest sensational return to PGA Tour action at next week's Genesis Invitational.

The 15-time major winner has not featured competitively since missing the cut at last year's Open Championship at St Andrew's, with the injuries he suffered in a car crash in February 2021 still impacting his ability to compete on a regular basis.

However, Woods has now revealed that he will be teeing off at next week's event at Riviera Country Club, a tournament he hosts, in what will be his first PGA Tour appearance outside of a major since the Zozo Championship in October 2020. 

The Genesis Invitational is one of 17 'elevated' events on the PGA Tour this season and the participation of Woods will further enhance interest in the event, with the likes of world No 1 Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm also set to feature.

A long road back for Tiger 

To say it has been a long road back for Woods following his car crash would be something of an understatement, with the 47-year-old spending close to 18 months out of action before making a sensational return at the 2022 Masters. 

Despite his fitness issues, Woods was able to finish a more than credible 47th at Augusta, but the following month at the PGA Championship he was forced to withdraw after three rounds as he struggled with his movement. 

Woods made his third and final appearance of 2022 at the Open Championship, returning to the scene of two of his Claret Jug successes at St Andrew's, but he was unable to make the cut. 

An appearance at December's Hero World Challenge, another tournament he hosts, had also been on the cards for Woods, but he withdrew due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot, although he did later feature alongside his son Charlie in the two-round PNC Championship - an event where the use of buggies is permitted. 

Woods will now be hoping his latest return is more sustained and successful, although hopes of winning a first ever Genesis Invitational and a record-breaking 83rd PGA Tour title may be a little premature at this stage. 

The Genesis Invitational holds special memories for Woods despite his relative lack of success at the tournament, as he made his PGA Tour at the event in 1992 as a 16-year-old amateur. 

His last appearance at the Genesis came in 2020, although it was not a memorable one, as he finished last of the players to make the cut in California.

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Woods no stranger to comeback success

Of course, Woods is no stranger to spending time away from the golf course, with the latter part of his career having been dogged by injury, most notably back issues that have seen him undergo multiple operations.

However, the former world number one has shown time after time that he is capable of returning to the top of the game and the winners' circle after extended layoffs. 

This was underlined by his remarkable success at the 2019 Masters, as he claimed his 15th major title some 11 years after his 14th success, not only an extraordinary feat considering his injury problems in the past, but also as he became the second-oldest Masters champion of all time. 

Woods will be hoping for an equally emotional and successful return to Augusta this year for the Masters where he is 60/1 to land his sixth Green Jacket, 26 years after claiming his first in 1997. 

Major involvement the target 

While Woods will be hoping to produce a strong showing at the Genesis Invitational, his main goal is to prove his fitness and form ahead of the four majors of 2023, which will begin with the Masters in April. 

The Californian has previously stated that he hopes to feature at Augusta, as well as the US Open, PGA Championship and Open, and he is 33/1 to add to his major tally by winning at least one of those events.  

As well as being 60/1 to win the Masters, Woods is 80/1 to claim a fifth PGA Championship title in 2023, 60/1 to lift the US Open for a fourth time and 66/1 to win a fourth Open at Royal Liverpool.

bet365 News Team

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