Woods already confirmed to play in US Open

ALTHOUGH it remains unclear exactly when Tiger Woods will make his next competitive appearance, the world number will definitely play the US Open in June, having already submitted his entry for the event.

It has emerged the US Golf Association (USGA) had received Woods’ entry to tee-off in the season’s second major which gets underway on June 17 at the Pebble Beach Golf Links — scene of his first US Open triumph in 2000.

On that occasion, he posted a 12-under-par total of 272 to win by the extraordinary margin of 15 shots in an event that is often viewed as the toughest major of them all.

Woods has subsequently gone on to claim two more US Opens, the first at Bethpage Black in 2002 and the second at Torrey Pines in 2008 when he memorably defied a stress fracture in his left leg to clinch the prestigious title.

However the 34-year-old has rarely competed at Pebble Beach since his triumph at the California links 10 years ago partly, it has been reported, because he does not enjoy the courses poa annua meadow grass greens.

After finishing fourth on his return to golf at Augusta National, Woods was reluctant to disclose when or where he would next play, announcing he would first look to take another break to “reevaluate” before returning to the game once again.

The general expectation is that he will be back at either the Quail Hollow Championship, starting on April 29, or the Players Championship that takes place the week after.

Of the two, The Players Championship — a prestigious event widely regarded as the unofficial fifth major — looks more likely to be his next stop-off.