Tiger Woods to make PGA Tour return in Memorial Tournament

Five-time winner Tiger Woods is set to play in next week's Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village. It will be his first appearance since the PGA Tour restarted last month behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions. Picture: Getty Images

Tiger Woods will make his eagerly-awaited first appearance on the PGA Tour since its restart following the Covid-19 shutdown in an event he's won five times.

The 15-time major champion has committed to teeing up in next week's Memorial Tournament, the second leg of a double-header on the US circuit at Muirfield Village in Columbus, Ohio.

It will be his first outing since the Genesis Invitational in February, having sat out the first four events since the PGA Tour returned behind closed doors last month.

"I’m looking forward to playing in the @MemorialGolf next week," said Woods, the winner in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009 and 2012. "I’ve missed going out and competing with the guys and can’t wait to get back out there."

The 44-year-old, who is set to defend his Masters title in November, was last seen in a charity match in May, when he teamed up with former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning to beat Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady at Medalist Golf Club in Florida.

“I've always enjoyed Muirfield," said Woods, speaking in 2018, of the venue created by Jack Nicklaus. "I've always tried to play at Jack's events.

"What he's meant to the TOUR and he's meant to all of us has players, I've always tried to support his events and I just happened to play well on his golf courses too.

“Whether it's here or most of the Nicklaus Design courses that we play, I seem to play them well. But this one in particular is very special to him, it's very special to us as players.

"Obviously because of what he's done to the golf course, but more so what he's meant to us as players.”

World No 1 Rory McIlroy is also set to play in next week's event, having taken a two-week break after lining up in the first three tournaments after the restart.