• PGA Tour

Woods paired with Clarke for return to action

ESPN staff
August 2, 2011
Darren Clarke defeated Tiger Woods in 2000 © Getty Images
Enlarge

Tiger Woods has been partnered with good friend and Open champion Darren Clarke for the first two rounds of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Woods will make his return to competitive golf at the event at Firestone Country Club on Thursday, after being forced to take an extended break from the sport after aggravating a knee injury at the Players' Championship in May.

Nobody really knows the state of the 35-year-old's game heading into the event, which he has previously won seven times, but organisers have seemingly moved to make him feel as comfortable as possible - pairing him with one of his best friends in the game.

Clarke and Woods became friends during the course of the WGC World Match Play in 2000 - which the Northern Irishman eventually won in a memorable final against the American - with the 42-year-old revealing he exchanged congratulatory texts with Woods last month after he claimed the Claret Jug at Royal St George's.

"Very happy for Darren Clarke, well deserved win," Tiger Woods said on Twitter at the time.

Woods has also committed to play in next week's USPGA Championship, which is clearly his priority as he looks to improve on his haul of 14 major championships. He spent Monday practising at Atlanta Country Club, site of this year's final major, before heading to Akron on Tuesday.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices