Tiger Woods makes announcement on LA wildfires and provides update on Genesis Invitational

Tiger Woods has taken to social media to reveal he and his team will be making charitable efforts to help those communities most affected by the tragic wildfires in his hometown of California.

Woods, 49, posted a statement on his X / Twitter page to express his deepest sympathies with those caught up in the Los Angeles fires.

The former World No.1 and winner of a joint record 82 PGA Tour titles was born in Cypress, California, on 30 December 1975. 

Woods grew up in Orange County, California, and he was named Southern California Amateur Player of the Year in both 1990 and 1991. 

He then moved out of California in 1996, a year before going on to win his first major title with a record 12-shot victory at the 1997 Masters. 

Woods now resides in Jupiter Island, Florida. 

Tiger Woods "not really focused" on Genesis Invitational right now, more worried about the safety of everyone in California

The death toll as a result of the California wildfires has risen to 24 people.

Officials have confirmed at least another 16 people remain missing from the wildfires. 

Reports claim 16 of the dead were found in the Eaton fire zone, while eight were found in the Palisades area. 

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna explained today that 88,000 residents are currently under evacuation orders and 84,000 are under warning as officials warn the current winds still pose a "tremendous threat" to locals. 

The largest fire is the Palisades, which has now burnt through more than 23,000 acres and is 13% contained.

Woods' annual Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour is set to take place at Riviera Country Club in nearby Pacific Palisades from 13-16 February. 

As it stands, the PGA Tour and Woods have yet to make a decision on the status of next month's tournament, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation. 

Woods admits his team is "not really focused on the tournament" at the moment but more worried about "making sure everyone is safe". 

Related:

• PGA Tour won't rush decision Tiger Woods will keep close eye on

Reports claim Riviera has been evacuated but has not been damaged by the wildfires. 

The Californian wildfires of the past week are on track to be among the costliest in United States history. 

Woods took to social media on Tuesday 14 January to thank the "incredible heroes that are the first responders helping to contain and save the community of Los Angeles."

The 15-time major champion concluded his statement by confirming he will be providing a greater update on his team's own charitable efforts to help the many different communities affected by these tragic wildfires. 

"The devastation that is ongoing with the LA firs is such a tragedy and being from California, it hits home," wrote Woods via a statement on X / Twitter just hours before taking part in his first TGL match at the SoFi Center in Florida. 

"My heart is with those who have suffered unimaginable loss. Thank you to the incredible heroes that are the first responders helping to contain and save the community of Los Angeles.

"We plan to provide an update on our own charitable efforts to help those communities in the coming the weeks. Stay strong LA!"

Woods told reporters after making his TGL debut on Tuesday night that his team were not focused on the Genesis Invitational at Riviera for the time being, but more worried about the safety of everyone in the area.

"We're trying to just figure everything out and make sure that everyone is safe and we have meetings scheduled going forward," Woods told the media after his Jupiter Links GC lost 12-1 to Los Angeles on TGL. 

"As of right now, we're not really focused on the tournament. It's more about what we can do to help everyone who's struggling, who's lost homes and had their lives changed. There's so many other things that are bigger than that [tournament]."

Read Woods' statement here: