March 16th, 2010
02:13 PM ET

Update: Tiger Woods will return to golf at Masters

[Updated 2:12 p.m.] PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem reacted to Tiger Woods' announcement that he will return to golf at the Masters.

"We were pleased to learn that Tiger Woods will be playing the Masters in a few weeks. He has invested a lot of time taking steps, both in his personal and professional life, in order to prepare for his return. We all wish him and his family the best as he rejoins the tour."

[Posted 11:28 a.m.] Tiger Woods announced he will make his much-anticipated return to golf at the Masters in April.

"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect," Woods said in a statement, now on his Web site. "After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I’m ready to start my season at Augusta."

Woods, 34, stepped away from the tour late last year after crashing his black Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and then a tree near his home outside Orlando, Florida.

“The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it’s been a while since I last played," Woods said in a statement.

Billy Payne, Chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, said in a statement he supported Woods.

“We support Tiger’s decision to return to competitive golf beginning at this year’s Masters Tournament," Payne said. "Additionally, we support and encourage his stated commitment to continue the significant work required to rebuild his personal and professional life.â€

The early-morning crash set off a barrage of infidelity allegations against the golfer, who is married to Elin Nordegren. The couple has two children.

“I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment," Woods said in the statement. "Although I’m returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life."

Last month, Woods apologized in a tightly-controlled televised statement for his "irresponsible and selfish" behavior, which he said included infidelity.

Read full CNN.com story

soundoff (176 Responses)
  1. robert

    Envy is a great destroyer of one's soul. Go Tiger these supreme people will always be examining someone other than themselves. Best of luck.

    March 16, 2010 at 12:10 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Dave

    I hope the fans boo him and I hope he misses the cut. That would be poetic justice. He can then jump on his private jet and head to Az for some more sessions.

    March 16, 2010 at 12:10 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Tammy

    Great news to hear Tiger is returning!! People should worry about their own personal lives and not Tiger's or anyone else's as far as that goes. I bet if half the people bashing this man would take a step back and looooook waaaaaaaaaay back, maybe not that far back, in their own closets.....boy, the skeletons you would find. It's obvious Elin got over it, why don't the rest of the world. Mind your business people. GOOOOO TIGER! God Bless you and your family.

    March 16, 2010 at 12:10 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Don W.

    Glad he's back, don't care if he wins. He'd be less if he didn't play, and "everybody" is always working through something. His "self" went to his head, and he's paying and working through it. Good luck.

    March 16, 2010 at 12:10 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Sharon

    You go Tiger. I hope you come back and Shut the world up. What you have done is between you your wife and God, Get out the have fun and live your life again. Enjoy your family people are dying to have a family like your, I will be lifting your wife and you in prayer.

    March 16, 2010 at 12:10 pm | Report abuse |
  6. oregonsooner

    He's chosen the one tournament that will not allow heckling. Smart move on his part. It is interesting to read some of the negative comments about Tiger. Seems that the #1 sport in the US is not football or NASCAR, but the piling on atmosphere when one of the celebs/heroes come crashing down.

    March 16, 2010 at 12:11 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Brian

    It will be great to see him back playing the game he so great at. – let his persona lifel stay personal- his wife and his family sound like are working it out -Good for you Tiger.

    March 16, 2010 at 12:11 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Carol Morales

    It defies the imagination how a country such as the USA, with better and more serious things going on, feel they have the right to stick their nose in someone's personal life. We allow the media to run with it and we keep the fires burning with our narrow-minded saintly attitudes and opinions.

    Right, wrong or indifferent, Tiger's life is between his wife and him. Those of you who live off the ruins that have been caused for those in living in the spot light should get a life. We have seen more individuals destroyed, presidents, senators, just to name a few.

    Unless you can contribute something that would make this matter in Tiger's life should butt out and get a life of their own.

    March 16, 2010 at 12:11 pm | Report abuse |
  9. April

    Looking forward to the Masters and seeing Tiger back in the game. His personal life is just that, should be private and everyone needs to leave it alone. Let the man play golf, amaze us with his talent and get on with his life!

    March 16, 2010 at 12:11 pm | Report abuse |
  10. FormerNewsie

    Oh please pair Jasper and Tiger for Round One.
    And can you imagine a Fourth Round of Tiger with either Phil or Ernie and they're all in contention to win?
    If there is a Golf God this will happen.

    March 16, 2010 at 12:12 pm | Report abuse |
  11. AP

    Glad to see Tiger get back in the game. Judging by some of the comments though, are we really going to start saying that mistakes are never forgiven? Oh, if only the stars could turn the camera on our lives and try to prevent us from going back to work...

    March 16, 2010 at 12:13 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Roy

    Will the Golf Channel now do a special on Tiger Woods as they are doing on John Daly, why not, whart is the difference between the two, they together have set golf back and let the game down!!!!

    March 16, 2010 at 12:14 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Wildranger

    Way to go Tiger. Your personal life is your and your family's own business, and the media and public should respect that. As the old expression goesm "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." I wish you much luck at the Masters, and keep my fingers crossed you and your family are able to work through this most difficult time in your lives.

    March 16, 2010 at 12:14 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Stan Levenson

    To ere is human to forgive is devine, If Elin can forgive let the rest of world do the same We;come back.

    March 16, 2010 at 12:14 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Linda

    Congrats Tiger! Welcome back! I am so excited to be able to watch again! I only watch when your playing! You make Golf fun and exciting! I hope that the media leaves you and your family alone it's long past time for them to move on!!
    Again Welcome Back!!!

    March 16, 2010 at 12:15 pm | Report abuse |
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