The anticipation ends: Tiger announces his return to golf
Written by MegAnne, Monday March 22 2010
We can all breathe again: After much anticipation, Tiger Woods has officially announced he’ll be hitting the links once again in the 8-11 April Masters. Hosted at Augusta National, where he won his first major in 1997, Woods will return to golf in just enough time to continue his streak of never missing the year’s first major as a professional.
“The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect,” Woods said in a statement. “After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I’m ready to start my season at Augusta.
“The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it’s been a while since I last played.”
In his last professional appearance before his scandal, Woods claimed his 82nd career victory at the Australian Masters on 15 November 2009. On Thanksgiving Day two weeks later, he suffered a car crash that sent him to the hospital and opened the door to a scandal about his personal life, ultimately leading to his admission of extramarital affairs.
“I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment,” Woods said in his statement. “Although I’m returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life.”
On 11 December 2009, Woods announced an indefinite leave of absence from the game, followed by a public statement on 19 February regarding his behavior. Woods began practicing recently near his home, causing speculation of a return in the near future.
Woods will miss the Arnold Palmer Invitation next week, as well as the Tavistock Cup, an exhibition match held in Isleworth near his home.
“When I finally got into a position to think about competitive golf again, it became apparent to me that the Masters would be the earliest I could play,” Woods said. “I called both Joe Lewis and Arnold Palmer and expressed my regrets for not attending the Tavistock Cup and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. I again want to thank them both for their support and their understanding. Those are fantastic tournaments and I look forward to competing in them again.
“I would also like to thank the Augusta National members and staff for their support. I have deep appreciation for everything that they do to create a wonderful event for the benefit of the game.”
Click here to read the full statement.
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