'Can't believe it': Golf world erupts over Tiger Woods announcement

Tiger Woods has stunned the golf world after announcing he will return to competition next week.

Just 10 months after his right leg was badly damaged in a car crash, Woods will compete alongside his 12-year-old son Charlie in the PNC Championship.

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It will be his first competition, even in a tournament Woods described last week as the "hit-and-giggle" variety that he can play, since he and his son tied for seventh a year ago in the unofficial event that pairs family members.

"Although it's been a long and challenging year, I am very excited to close it out by competing in the PNC Championship with my son Charlie," Woods tweeted on Wednesday.

"I'm playing as a Dad and couldn't be more excited and proud."

The tournament said it was holding a spot for Woods, and he fuelled speculation he might play the December 18-19 event at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando when he took full swings with driver on Saturday and Sunday during the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

"We have been liaising with Tiger and his team for some time and are delighted that he has now decided to make his return to competitive golf at the PNC Championship," said Alastair Johnston of IMG, the executive chairman of the event.

Tiger Woods' comeback event after devastating car crash

Woods was driving to a Los Angeles course for a television shoot on February 23 when police say he was driving about 137km/h along a winding, coastal suburban road.

The SUV crashed through a median and plunged down a hill.

Doctors said he shattered the tibia and fibula bones in his right leg in multiple locations.

Those were stabilised by a rod in the tibia. A combination of screws and pins were used to stabilise additional injuries in the ankle and foot.

Woods said last week that amputation was considered.

He declined to discuss specifics of the crash, saying only "you can read about all that there in the police report."

The PNC Championship was formerly known as the Father-Son Challenge until it changed the title to be more inclusive of family members.

For the first time in its 24 years, the tournament has a current No.1 player in the field, Nelly Korda, who will be playing with her father Petr, the former Australian Open tennis champion.

Still, this will become all about Woods inside the ropes, hitting shots that count towards a score.

A year ago, it was his last event before a fifth back surgery, not as serious as the previous ones.

Towards the end of the second round, he was not hitting some tee shots because his son played from a forward tee and was getting it out there farther than Tiger himself could have hit it.

Fans are returning to the Florida course, and it already is close to a sellout because organisers limit ticket sales to preserve the intimate nature of the event.

with AAP

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