Tiger plans to play at Bridgestone Invitational

Tiger Woods will return to competitive golf next week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Woods announced the news via Twitter and on his website Thursday night.

Harig: Bridging The Gap

Tiger Woods will tee it up next week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in a move that brings more questions than answers, writes ESPN.com's Bob Harig. Column

"Feeling fit and ready to tee it up at Firestone next week. Excited to get back out there!" Woods tweeted.

Firestone is the venue where Woods has won seven times but also where last year he had his worst 72-hole performance as a pro, finishing 18 over par.

Woods has not played since May 12, when he withdrew after nine holes of the Players Championship because of knee and Achilles injuries he had suffered at the Masters.

The injuries, which he said occurred during the third round at Augusta National in April, were said to be "minor" but have kept Woods from completing a tournament since finishing tied for fourth at the Masters.

He has said on several occasions that he would not return to competitive golf this time until he was "100 percent" healthy.

Woods, who has won 71 PGA Tour titles, including 14 majors championships, has missed the U.S. Open and British Open this year and played just six worldwide events. He last victory on the PGA Tour came at the 2009 BMW Championship, his last win later that year at the Australian Masters.

How much he has been able to work on his game is unclear. His instructor, Sean Foley, has said on several occasions that the two have not worked together -- although that could simply be because Foley has been on the road at the British Open and Canadian Open working with other clients.

Bryon Bell, Woods' childhood friend and president of Tiger Woods Design, will caddie for him, The Golf Channel reported Thursday night. Bell has caddied for Woods three times -- a win at the 1999 Buick Invitational, a tie for second at the Buick Invitational, and a tie for second in 2003 at the Disney Classic.

Woods announced last week that he had parted ways with long-time caddie Steve Williams after 12 years.

Bob Harig is the golf writer for ESPN.com.

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