Golf:Tiger Woods looks set to take part in June's US Open after submitting an entry form to the United States Golf Association. The 34-year-old returned to competition at last week's Masters at Augusta and finished joint fourth as Phil Mickelson took victory.
The US Open will be held at Pebble Beach from June 17th and Woods will have fond memories of the course as he won the season’s second major at the same venue 10 years ago, winning by 15 shots.
Mike Davis, USGA senior director of rules and competitions, said: “Tiger has certainly filed an entry, and we’re certainly anticipating that he’s going to play. If someone fully exempt files an entry, generally speaking, they always do play.”
American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin is unconcerned by Woods’ inactivity this year after the world number one proved he was more than able to compete at the Masters.
“I was obviously glad to see him play again, but other things are way more important in his life,” said two-time Ryder Cup winner Pavin. “He thought it was the right time to play again and I was delighted to see him play again and play well and he moved into the top eight on our points list which is a good thing as far as I am concerned.”
Woods’ performance at Augusta moved him up to seventh and into an automatic qualification place on the USA Ryder Cup points table which is currently topped by Masters champion Phil Mickelson and Shell Houston Open winner Anthony Kim, who finished third at Augusta.
“I don’t know what Tiger’s schedule is, I don’t know when he is going to play again. I don’t think he knows, so that’s all I know,” added 50-year-old Pavin. “I hope he plays some more and continues to play well and makes the team, but I will just have to wait and see what his schedule is.
“He has other things that he is focusing on as well and I don’t think he knows what his schedule will be, so it depends on how things go in his private life and I respect him for what he is going to do and I will have to just wait and see.”
Pavin is set to tee off alongside Europe captain Colin Montgomerie at this week’s Volvo China Open with the pair playing in the same group for the first two rounds alongside Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee.
“It’s super Tiger Woods has come back, it’s great for golf,” said Montgomerie. “It’s great to see him back and contending in the way he wished he would so lets hope he comes back full-time as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Ernie Els has won the Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month award for March.
The South African scooped the award having won back-to-back titles at the WGC CA Championship on the European Tour and the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the US PGA Tour, moving him back into the world’s top 10.
The wins were the 63rd and 64th successes of Els’ career, with his victory at Doral in Miami making him The European Tour’s all-time leading money winner.
“I’m delighted and honoured to have won The Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month,” said Els, who last won the monthly award in February 2004.
“It has been too long since I last won this award and it is a great indication of how well I played to win the events at Doral and Bay Hill. Those two wins were definitely special and it was an amazing feeling.”