15 Feb 2012

Woods to play extra tournaments

10:24 am on 15 February 2012

The American golf star Tiger Woods, who is trying to win his first US PGA title in almost two-and-a-half years, says he'll play the Honda Classic for the first time since his amateur days and compete in the next two World Golf Championships events.

The 14-time major champion - chasing the all-time record of 18 crowns won by Jack Nicklaus - announced on his website his upcoming schedule, which includes an unusual start at the PGA National between WGC events.

Woods has not won a tour-level event since the Australian Masters in November 2009 just before the infamous sex scandal that led to divorce from Elin Nordegren and prompted a move from Orlando to the Miami area.

Woods shared third last month at Abu Dhabi in his 2012 season opener and shared 15th last week at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in his US season debut, falling out of contention with a 75 in the final round.

Woods won the World Challenge last December, a limited-field invitational event that serves as a fundraiser for his foundation but also offers world ranking points.

Former world No.1 Woods, now ranked 18th, is a three-time winner at the WGC World Match-Play, having taken the title in 2003, 2004 and 2008, and has won eight times at Doral, site of the other WGC event. His most recent triumph there was in 2007.

Woods has not played the Honda Classic since 1993, when he missed the cut as a 17-year-old amateur at Weston Hills.