Tiger Back in Action This Week


Though he hasn't played a tournament in 54 days, Tiger Woods has still managed to attract headlines. That's not changing this week as Woods is in San Martin, Calif., to compete in the $5 million Frys.com Open at CordeValle Golf Club.

"I'm excited to be back," Woods said on his website, www.tigerwoods.com. "I've had good practice sessions at home and am eager to get back under the gun."

Woods hasn't won a tournament since November 2009; that came in the Australian Masters. His last victory in the U.S. was the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, where he beat Rocco Mediate - coincidentally the defending champion in the Frys.com Open - in 91 holes while suffering from a broken left leg.

Because of his inactivity due to surgery and subsequent rehabilitation, Woods has dropped out of the top-50 in the World Golf Ranking, ending a streak of 778 consecutive weeks - 15 years - in the top-50.

Woods is in California with a new caddie, Joe LaCava, who briefly worked for Dustin Johnson after LaCava's long-time boss, Fred Couples, said he should seek steadier work as Couples' schedule had grown sporadic due to his chronically bad back.

On Wednesday, Woods, who lost five major sponsors following his car accident, the subsequent revelations of his marital improprieties and divorce last August, announced his first major endorsement in two years. He will be one of the "ambassadors" for Rolex, the high-end watchmaker. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"This makes a big statement," his agent Mark Steinberg said at CordeValle. "I think this shows me where people are with Tiger Woods." Steinberg added there will be more deals to come.

Woods is reportedly entering the tournament in good form. Last week he set a course record of 10-under 62 at his new home club, The Medalist in Jupiter, Fla. The previous mark at the Greg Norman-designed course, which has been played by over 100 PGA Tour pros, was 64.

Starting with the Frys.com Open, Woods will play four times this year. His next three events include the Australian Open, the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia, and the Chevron World Challenge, an event he hosts - and has won four times - at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Woods will be paired in the first two rounds of the Frys.com Open with 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Patrick Cantlay, the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world who is currently a sophomore at UCLA.

All four rounds of the Frys.com Open will be televised on the Golf Channel. For all the scoring, visit http://www.pgatour.com/r/leaderboard/.