Woods in line for Presidents Cup after signing for Sydney

Tiger Woods will return to competition for the first time since May at this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (GETTY IMAGES)

Tiger Woods has signed up to play at the Australian Open in Sydney in November, organisers said yesterday, making the former world No 1 a likely starter at the following week's Presidents Cup.

The 14-times major winner will return to competition for the first time since May at this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in the United States, after missing the last two majors because of leg injuries.

Fred Couples will lead the United States against the rest of the world barring Europe, led by Greg Norman, in the Presidents Cup from 17 to 20 November and has previously said that, if fit, Woods would be part of his 12-man team for the contest at the Royal Melbourne club.

There will be no European Tour event in Bahrain early next year following the political unrest in the Middle East state.

The inaugural Volvo Golf Champions was staged in January with prize-money of more than £1.5m and a star-studded field. Now, after a five-month wait to see how the political situation developed, the decision has been taken by the golf authorities not to return yet, following on from the scrapping of the Formula One Grand Prix that had been due to be held there this season.