Tiger Woods to return at World Challenge

After being away from competitive golf for 16 months, and two missed comeback dates, former world no. 1 and tournament host Tiger Woods is set to make his return at the 2016 Hero World Challenge from December 1 to 4 at Albany in the Bahamas.

“I am excited to make my return at the Hero World Challenge at Albany,” Woods said. “This is our 18th year, and every year we put together a top field that showcases the best golfers from the previous season.”

Woods, whose Tiger Woods Foundation is the event’s charitable beneficiary along with the Tavistock Foundation and Albany Scholars Programme, is a five-time winner of the Hero World Challenge. He last played in the tournament in 2014.

Joining Woods in the World Challenge field is defending champion Bubba Watson. After nearly not playing in last year’s tournament, Watson earned his spot via an exemption that opened up just weeks before the tournament and rolled to a three-stroke victory.

Watson makes his title defense in a field that includes 16 of the top 25 players in the world rankings, three major championship winners from 2016, the Rio Olympics’ gold, silver and bronze medalists and 12 players who competed in last month’s Ryder Cup.

The field of 18 PGA Tour players is invited as follows: the current four major championships winners, the top 11 players available from the Official World Golf Ranking as of September 26 (following the Tour Championship), the defending champion and two special-exemption players.

Woods and Zach Johnson join the field as the last two named in the invitees’ list.