Tiger Woods announced on his website that he plans to return to competitive golf next month in the Safeway Open at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, the first of three events he hopes to play before the end of the year.
Woods has not played since he underwent two back procedures after he tied for 10th in the Wyndham Championship in August of last year.
“My rehabilitation is to the point where I’m comfortable making plans, but I still have work to do,” Woods’ statement at tigerwoods.com read in part. “Whether I can play depends on my continued progress and recovery. My hope is to have my game ready to go.
” … It could be a fun fall. It was difficult missing tournaments that are important to me, but this time I was smart about my recovery and didn’t rush it.”
Woods’ schedule includes the Safeway Open, the first event of the 2016-17 PGA Tour season, on Oct. 13-16, the Turkish Airlines Open on Nov. 3-6 and the Hero World Challenge, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, on Dec. 1-4 in the Bahamas.
The statement also said he would take part in the Tiger Woods Invitational, scheduled for Oct. 10-11 in the Monterey Peninsula.
The 40-year-old Woods has won 79 times on the PGA Tour, three short of Sam Snead’s record, and 14 major titles, four behind Jack Nicklaus’ mark, and he has said he believe can equal or surpass both.
