Woods return still unclear

Tournament officials at the WGC-Accenture Match Play have been unable to confirm speculation that Tiger Woods is set to return to golf at the Arizona event in 12 days' time.

Reports in an Australian newspaper suggested the world number one was ready to return to golf for the first time since a car accident in late November which led to revelations of extra-marital affairs and an admission of "trangressions" in Woods' personal life.

World number one Woods announced in early December that he was taking an indefinite leave from the sport to focus on becoming 'a better husband, father and person' and the American has not been seen in public since.

The PGA Tour were still in the dark today on a possible Woods return with the tour's senior communications director Laura Hill saying: 'We have had no indication of when or where Tiger Woods will make his return to the PGA Tour.'

The Match Play event at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain near Tucson was the venue for Woods' return from a lengthy injury 12 months ago.

'We don't know anything officially yet, but wouldn't that be nice?' the tournament's executive director Wade Dunagan told the Arizona Daily Star.

'It would mean we'd get Tiger on his return two years in a row. Very cool. The main question is, "Do I know anything you don't?" The answer is "no".

'We're still a little bit in the dark. I can't confirm or deny anything, because I don't know.'

The tournament has a limited field open to the top 64 golfers in the world rankings and players wanting to compete have to confirm their entry by next Friday, February 12, five days before the event begins.

Woods left it until a day before the deadline before announcing his return following knee surgery last year but his participation could also be clouded by the fact that tournament sponsor Accenture was one of the first companies to end their endorsement deal with the 14-time major winner when the allegations surrounding his personal life surfaced.

There was no immediate response to requests for a comment from Woods' management company IMG.