did any of the so-called "rivals" (mickelson, singh, duval etc) win anything while he was out?


By Jerry Potter, USA TODAY
Tiger Woods is coming back, eight months after winning golf's U.S. Open and having reconstructive surgery on his left knee.
He announced his return Thursday on his website, saying, "I'm now ready to play again."

He'll compete in the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, which begins Wednesday near Tucson. Despite the layoff, he's still No. 1 in the World Golf Ranking, which makes him the top player in the tournament.

The field will not be official until 5 p.m. ET today, but currently Woods would play No. 64 Brendan Jones in his first match Wednesday at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club.

Woods hasn't played since a Monday playoff in the U.S. Open on June 16. He beat Rocco Mediate in 91 holes to earn his 14th victory in a major championship. Eight days later he had reconstructive surgery on his left knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He also had stress fractures in his left tibia.

The surgery ended Woods' season, in which he won four of six starts on the PGA Tour and the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour.

His life has changed since the Open. His wife, Elin, gave birth to their second child, son Charlie, on Feb. 8.

Woods' return is welcome news for professional golf and especially the PGA Tour, which he has dominated since turning pro in 1996.

"We are delighted that Tiger is returning to competition and look forward to watching him compete next week," Commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement.

Speculation about his return had intensified throughout the winter, but he hadn't revealed the time and place. Executives at Accenture, the global management company that Woods represents, did not know until Thursday.

"We learned about it like everyone else," said Gary Beckner, senior director of global event marketing. "We read it on his website."

Beckner said the announcement created excitement within the company and at the tournament, which Woods won last year.

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I hope he's well enough to play. If he is, go on, baby! I love and support you.