Woods to Continue Long Post-Masters Break


Tiger Woods is not varying from his planned lengthy noncompetitive stretch following the Masters. Though some speculated that he might, he won't play in next week's Wells Fargo Championship, an event at Quail Hollow in Charlotte that he won in 2007.

When The Associated Press asked his agent, Mark Steinberg, about Woods not playing at Quail Hollow, Steinberg replied in an email, "Accurate."

Since his win in 2007, Woods has missed the cut the two other times he's played in the Wells Fargo Championship - in 2010 and '12.

With or without Woods, the tournament will have its traditionally strong field. Among the entrants is No. 2-ranked Rory McIlroy and No. 11 Phil Mickelson.

Also on hand will be defending champion Rickie Fowler, who beat McIlroy and D.A. Points in a playoff last year. The win was Fowler's first - and still only - Tour victory.

Woods will return to action for the first time since the Masters at the Players Championship May 9-12 at TPC Sawgrass.

His website, www.tigerwoodsfoundation.org, has a post that notes Woods will be try to win two in a row at the AT&T National. The tournament, which benefits his foundation, will be played two weeks after the U.S. Open at Merion on June 27-30 - at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.

"I'm really looking forward to defending my title at the AT&T National," Woods said on his website. "The Washington, D.C., community has been so supportive of the tournament, and I'm excited to play Congressional Country Club."