Tiger Woods Confirms He'll Return for the Masters

As first reported by FOXSports.com last week, Tiger Woods has confirmed they will return to competitive golf at the Masters.

Woods had been rumored to be making his comeback at either the made-for-TV Tavistock, which will be played next Monday & Tuesday, or the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, also in Orlando.

RAW DATA: Tiger Woods' Golf Victories

“I called both Joe Lewis & Arnold Palmer & expressed my regrets for not attending the Tavistock Cup & the Arnold Palmer Invitational” they said.

“I would also like to thank the Augusta National members & staff for their support. I have deep appreciation for everything that they do to generate a incredible event for the benefit of the game.”

“I again require to thank them both for their support & their understanding. Those are fantastic tournaments & I look forward to competing in them again.

Already the major with the highest TV ratings, this Masters could be the biggest yet.

"Obviously, the ratings will be off the chart," player Heath Slocum said. "It will be interesting to watch -- not only the reaction from him, but from the fans, the media, the players. I would venture to say they might be nervous."

Woods four time has come in to a major after a long layoff without playing, with mixed results -- they missed the cut at Winged Foot for the 2006 U.S. Open after his sister died, & they won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines while playing on a shattered left knee.

Woods is a four-time Masters champion, although they has not won at Augusta National, his longest drought.

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In some respects, the Masters makes sense for golf's No. 1 player to return. Media credentials are limited regardless of who is playing or what is in the news, & Augusta National has more control of its tickets than any other golf tournament.

Woods has been the biggest draw at the Masters ever since they became its youngest champion at 21 in 1997, when they broke the tournament scoring record with a 12-shot victory.

That mostly likely won't compare to this year.