Woods to make 2012 PGA Tour debut at Pebble Beach

REUTERS: Tiger Woods will make his 2012 PGA Tour debut at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am next month, the former world number one said on Monday.

For Woods, who is kickstarting his 2012 campaign at the January 26-29 Abu Dhabi Championship, it will be his first appearance in the February 9-12 tournament since 2002.

“It will be fun going back,” Woods said in a statement on his website. “It’s always been one of my favorite spots.”

The winner of 71 PGA Tour titles and 14 major championships last played at Pebble Beach in the 2010 U.S. Open, where he tied for fourth.

Woods ended the 2011 season by winning the Chevron World Challenge, an unofficial 18-man event the he hosted, to snap a two-year winless drought while he struggled for fitness and form with his private life in tatters.

“It was great to finish 2011 strong,” said Woods. “More importantly, it’s good to be healthy again, and I’m hoping to get off to a fast start.”