Tiger will defend Memorial Tournament title next week


By PGATOUR.COM staff
DUBLIN, Ohio -- Ending any lingering speculation, Tiger Woods will defend his title at the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley next week.
Woods, who is nursing a neck injury, informed tournament officials of his decision on Wednesday afternoon. Commitments become final on Friday at 5 p.m.
Also joining the current world No. 1 at Muirfield Village will be No. 2-ranked Phil Mickelson. Mickelson could unseat Woods at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking if he wins the Crowne Plaza Invitational at colonial this week.
In his last start, Woods had withdrawn after six holes during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship. He had an MRI the following week and was diagnosed with an inflammed facet joint in his neck. He started practicing again last week.
"The doctors advised me to take a week off and rest, which I did," Woods said on his website. "They prescribed physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication and soft-tissue messages, which I'm continuing with. Although I'm not 100 percent, I feel much better and look forward to competing next week."
Woods, who beat Jim Furyk by a stroke at Muirfield Village last year, is the only four-time champion of the Memorial He has finished in the top-four on three other occasions in 11 starts at the event hosted by Jack Nicklaus.
Woods is also scheduled to play in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach two weeks after the Memorial, as well as the AT&T National July 1-2 and the Open at St Andrews from July 15-17.