Tiger Woods to compete in Players Championship

"This is our event, and it always attracts one of the best fields of the year," said Woods, who finished fourth in the Masters after making a comeback early this month. "It's a tournament everybody wants to win. I'm really looking forward to defending my title at the AT&T National. Philly is a great sports town, and I'm excited to play at Aronimink Golf Club," he added.

The 34-year-old Woods won The Players in 2001 and last year, he tied for eighth. He has already committed to next week's Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina and the US Open, June 17-20, at Pebble Beach Golf Links. The world number one golfer played at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia after a five month break following a revelation about a series of extramarital affairs.

Details of his private life have received worldwide attention with several of the golfer's mistresses coming forward to provide graphic information about his infidelity. The cover-up was busted after his wife Elin found out about his extramarital affair, which led to an argument and accident on November 27 when Woods crashed his SUV outside his Florida mansion sustaining minor injuries.

The golfer has apologised for his behaviour, spent 45 days in rehab for sex-addiction and recently spoke of continuing his treatment. Speaking to reporters after the tournament, Woods expressed disappointment in his performance. "I finished fourth. Not what I wanted," he said.

"As the week went on, I kept hitting the ball worse. I hit it better on Friday, but after that it was not very good…too many mistakes. I hit the ball too poorly on the weekend." Woods has changed his mind several times over whether he intends to play golf, this year. During his apology in February, Woods spoke of not returning to the game until he sorted out his personal life but changed his mind a few weeks later.

"I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don't know when that day will be," he had said, ruling out 2010. "When I do return I need to make my behaviour more respectful of the game." After the Masters, Woods did not give a definite answer to when he would be playing next. "I'm going to take a little time off and kind of re-evaluate things," he said.