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First came the strategically timed videos chronicling the progress of his health and his swing.
In a walk-before-you-run sequence, Tiger Woods posted video of himself hitting a wedge shot, then a driver. He even posted a “return of the stinger’’ video of himself hitting the patented low, searing shot he used to rely on while winning some of his 14 major championships.
Then came the news that his caddie, Joe LaCava, was in Florida a week ago practicing with him at Medalist, Woods’ home club.
Finally on Monday, the crumbs led to the cookie: Woods announced he’ll return to tournament golf and play in the Hero World Challenge, which takes place Nov. 30-Dec. 3 in the Bahamas.
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Woods, who hosts the tournament that benefits his foundation, posted his announcement on Twitter and joked that he’d like to “thank the committee of 1” for receiving one of two sponsor’s exemptions into the tournament.
The tournament field of 18 consists only of players ranked among the top 50 in the world, but because of a 2015 rule change, Woods can receive one of the sponsor exemptions regardless of his ranking, which stands at a whopping 1,180 in the world as a result of his inactivity and the fact he hasn’t won a tournament since 2013.
The last time Woods played tournament golf was last February at the Dubai Desert Classic, where he withdrew after the first round with a back injury. He’d played the Hero, then the Farmers Insurance Open in an effort to return after a layoff because of his ailing back, but he simply wasn’t healthy enough to continue.
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Less than two months after his withdrawal from Dubai, Woods underwent the fourth back surgery in his career, which kept him sidelined for the rest of the 2016-17 PGA Tour season.
Woods, who turns 42 next month, has made only 19 starts since the 2013 season.
He showed promise in his game last year at the Hero after a long layoff. Though he finished in a share for last place among those who completed four rounds, he finished tied with the winner of the tournament, Hideki Matsuyama, with the most birdies for the week.
Woods now believes after this latest surgery that the physical problems with his back are behind him. Returning to the Hero makes sense because it’s a soft landing spot to play with a small field, low stress and no cut, which means he’s guaranteed four rounds. And what he needs most now are tournament reps as he graduates to full-field events later in winter.
“I am excited to return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge,” Woods said in a statement. “Albany [Golf Club] is the perfect setting and it will be great to join this outstanding field.”
The field is star-studded, featuring Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar, Justin Rose, Patrick Reed and Daniel Berger, who was the other sponsor exemption along with Woods.
Before Monday, the only thing Woods has been in the news for was his May 29 vehicular incident in which he was arrested for DUI in Florida.
On Friday, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving in a deal that will keep him out of jail for the incident in which he was found passed out in his Mercedes with prescription drugs and marijuana in his system. Woods said he had been self-medicating to relieve the pain from his back surgery and insomnia.