Woods back from injury

TIGER Woods returns to competition this week – following a four-month injury layoff – at Isleworth, the same gated community where his historic golf career began to unravel five years ago.

Woods, who has played only seven events this year due to a nagging back injury, will make his comeback starting tomorrow at the Hero World Challenge, an 18-player invitational event that benefits his charity foundation.

Seven of the world’s 11 top players will compete, including eighth-ranked Australian Jason Day in his return from a back injury and 11th-rated Jordan Spieth, coming off a victory in last week’s Australian Open, but not world No 1 Rory McIlroy.

“We’re thrilled about the depth and talent of our field,” Woods said.

Woods, ranked 24th, moved the event this year from California to the same neighbourhood where he drove into a fire hydrant in late November of 2009.

That began a series of revelations unveiling a sex scandal that led to Woods’s divorce from wife Elin in 2010.

Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, has not captured a major title since the 2008 US Open.

Woods turns 39 later this month. No player has ever won more than three majors beyond his 39th birthday, something Woods must achieve if he is to catch Nicklaus. – AFP