Tiger Woods will make his return to competitive golf at next week’s PGA Tour PNC Championship in Florida.

The former world No 1, who has not played since suffering career-threatening leg injuries in a car crash earlier this year, will play in the 16-19 December tournament alongside his son Charlie.

“Although it’s been a long and challenging year, I am very excited to close it out by competing in the PNC Championship with my son Charlie,” Woods announced on Twitter.

“I’m playing as a Dad and couldn’t be more excited and proud,” added Woods, who suffered compound fractures in his right leg after the car he was driving in a Los Angeles suburb in February veered off the road and flipped several times.

The PNC Championship, which is taking place at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, has 20 Major champions teaming up with a relative of their choice.

Woods played in the 2020 event alongside son Charlie (12), a tournament won by Justin Thomas and his father Mike.

While the PNC Championship is a less demanding tournament than a fully fledged full-field PGA Tour event, Woods’ return to tournament golf nevertheless comes sooner than expected.

This past Saturday, Woods gave no clue about his planned return when speaking on the sidelines of the Hero World Challenge, the 20-player invitational event he hosts in the Bahamas each year to benefit his charitable foundation.

The 15-time Major winner said while he was able to play “hit-and-giggle golf”, a return to a PGA Tour event remained some way in the distance.

“Playing tour golf and being prepared to play and trying to shoot scores against these best players on the toughest golf courses, that’s a totally different deal,” Woods said. “I’m a long way away from that. Don’t expect me to be out there on the tour level for quite some time.”

In a separate interview last week, Woods said his days as a full-time playing member of the PGA Tour were now effectively over, stating he expected to “pick and choose” events in future.

“I think something that is realistic is playing the Tour one day – never full time, ever again – but pick and choose,” Woods said. “Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that.

“I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now on. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.”

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images