Worldwide Golf

TIGER Woods will make his second competitive start of the season at the Quail Hollow Championship in North Carolina on April 29th.

"I'm excited about competing," Woods said on his website. "It's a wonderful venue, and they always have a great field."

Woods said after the final round at the Masters that he would take a break, but is set to return sooner than expected.

The USGA has announced that the World No.1 has also filed his entry form to participation at the US Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on June 17th.

Mike Davis, USGA senior director of rules and competitions, said: “Tiger has certainly filed an entry, and we’re certainly anticipating that he’s going to play. If someone fully exempt files an entry, generally speaking, they always do play.”

Woods has fond memories of the Pebble Beach course having won the US Open there in 2000 by a record 15 strokes.

Meanwhile 60-year-old Tom Watson has confirmed the USGA has extended an invitation for him to play in his first US Open in seven years. Watson, who won the US Open in 1982 at Pebble Beach, said: “I am deeply grateful to the USGA for extending me the invitation to play in the US Open at one of my favourite golf courses in the world.”