Tiger Woods WILL PLAY in Hero World Challenge after official announcement

Tiger Woods has announced he will play in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, an event that he hosts from which proceeds benefit the TGR Foundation.

At 4.01 pm on Wednesday afternoon, golf fans received the news that they so dearly wanted. Woods will play in the 20-man field in the week beginning November 28 alongside the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm.

Cameron Young, Sungjae Im, Max Homa, Tom Kim and Shane Lowry will all be making their debuts at Albany, while Woods also announced that Tommy Fleetwood and Kevin Kisner will be included as tournament exemptions.

The event was first played in January 2000 as the Williams World Challenge. The event moved to the Bahamas in 2015 and after it was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Viktor Hovland secured victory in 2021.

As it is an unofficial PGA Tour event, there won't be any FedEx Cup points up for grabs, but players can earn Official World Golf Ranking points.

I am excited to announce that I will be in the field for this year’s #HeroWorldChallenge. A big welcome to @K_Kisner and @TommyFleetwood1 for joining us as well. See you soon at Albany!

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) November 9, 2022

There had been much speculation as to when the 15-time major champion would return to the course. He is likely to play with his son Charlie at the PNC Championship in December, but an appearance at the Hero World Challenge is a pleasant surprise for golf fans.

While Woods has caddied for Charlie in the Notah Begay III Junior Golf Championship this week, his son's swing has been compared both to his father and to four-time major champion Rory McIlroy.

It was McIlroy who teased the idea of Woods playing in the Hero World Challenge. The 46-year-old came fourth in 2019 which was his last appearance at the event.

Woods suddenly has a busy schedule as on December 10, he and his Northern Irish apprentice will face off against Spieth and Thomas in a 12-hole match at Pelican Golf Club in Florida.

McIlroy recently revealed that despite giving Woods "a good run," the man who has only played three times in 2022 has won the Player Impact Program again.