On Friday afternoon, Woods posted the following message on his Facebook page, confirming that he will return to the PGA Tour next week to play in the Quicken Loans National - a tournament staged by his own foundation - at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland:

"After a lot of therapy, I have recovered well and will be supporting my foundation next week at the Quicken Loans National. I've just started to hit full shots but it's time to take the next step. I will be a bit rusty but I want to play myself back into competitive shape. Excited for the challenge ahead."

Woods, who underwent microdiscectomy surgery on his back in late March, has played just three events on the PGA Tour this season and none since March 9, when he shot a final-round 78 to finish tied for 25th in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral.

Despite the absence, Woods is still ranked No. 4 in the world in the latest WGC rankings, and his return will come just three weeks before the season's third major, the Open Championships, tees off at Royal Liverpool GC in Hoylake, England.

Woods won the British Open the last time it was held at Royal Liverpool in 2006 - and even before his official return announcement, he was already 7-to-1 favorite to win his fourth Open and 15th major championship overall there next month.