Golf: Woods goes back to the 'office'

Tiger Woods will have New Zealand caddie Steve Williams, who was injured motor racing, back on his bags. Picture / Reuters

Very few tournaments around the world have got the better of Tiger Woods but he will wrestle with one of them when he returns to action in the Nissan Open starting at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles today.

The eight-time major winner made his PGA Tour debut there as a 16-year-old in 1992 and has played in the event nine times without winning.

He has, however, produced four top-10 finishes, including a playoff defeat by Billy Mayfair in 1998 and a tie for second in 1999.

Fresh from a three-week break following his victory at last month's Buick Invitational, world No 2 Woods has several other reasons to be in upbeat mood.

He has recovered from the flu that afflicted him at the Buick and will have New Zealand caddie Steve Williams, who has recovered from injuring his hand motor racing, back on his bag.

Should Woods finish no worse than outright fourth, he would also reclaim the world No 1 spot he lost to Fiji's Vijay Singh last September.

Singh, who ended Woods' five-year reign at the top after winning the Deutsche Bank Championship, has opted to take this week off.

So too have the in-form Phil Mickelson, winner of the last two PGA Tour events, and world No 3 Ernie Els.

"I would love to win at Riviera Country Club, where I've come close a couple times," Woods, 29, said.

"I played in my first pro event there ... and have great memories of the course.

"The other good news is that I was able to regain all the weight I lost prior to the Buick Invitational.

"I have enjoyed my three weeks off, but it's time to go back to work."

Perhaps Woods' greatest challenge this week will be to deny Canadian left-hander Mike Weir a third consecutive Nissan title and a place in the tournament record books.

No one has clinched the tournament three successive times in its 79-year history, although greats Ben Hogan (1947 and 1948) and Arnold Palmer (1966 and 1967) are among six players who have managed successive victories.

Weir, however, will fancy his chances and arrives at Riviera fresh from finishing second to Mickelson at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Monday when he closed with a superb, five-under 67.

"I have an affinity for Ben Hogan and know a lot about his game and what he's been able to accomplish, especially around Riviera," 2003 US Masters champion Weir told the scoregolf.com website.

"So for me to win back-to-back as he did - and Corey Pavin and Arnold Palmer, some great champions - would be an honour.

"To be able to do it three times would be fantastic. I'm real pleased with my game going in. It's a golf course I love and obviously I feel comfortable there."

The Nissan traditionally attracts a strong international field.

Australia's Stuart Appleby is back for his first event since winning the PGA Tour's season-opening Mercedes Championships in Hawaii.

Also playing this week are former world No 1 Nick Price, of Zimbabwe, and seven-time European No 1 Colin Montgomerie.

- REUTERS