Woods to start 2007 at Torrey Pines

Dec 29, 2006, 20:15 GMT

Orlando, FL - Tiger Woods has decided to skip the first three events of the 2007 PGA Tour campaign and will make his season debut in late January, as the two-time defending champion at the Buick Invitational in California.

Woods, according to his website, said he has been spending time with his family and had considered playing in next week's season-opening Mercedes Championship in Hawaii.

'I just haven't been able to prepare,' Woods wrote. 'I usually spend at least one week working on my game before a tournament, and have been unable to do that this year.'

Woods has twice before missed the Mercedes event. In 2003 he was recovering from knee surgery and last year he skipped the tournament to spend more time with his ailing father.

'Hopefully, everyone will understand,' Woods continued. 'Obviously, this was a tough decision because Gary Planos and his staff at Kapalua Resort always do such a great job with the event.'

Woods, of course, had a banner 2006 -- on the golf course.

After winning two PGA Tour events early in the year, at Torrey Pines and Doral, Woods' father died in May and he missed the cut at the U.S. Open in his next event. He then finished second at the Western Open and followed with five straight wins, including the British Open and PGA Championship -- bringing his major victory total to 12.

In all, Woods won nine times in 2006 -- eight on the PGA Tour -- and will take a streak of six straight PGA Tour titles into the 2007 campaign. He led the PGA Tour in earnings with more than $9.9 million and captured the Tour's player of the year honor for the eighth time.

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