Field announced for Chevron World Challenge

Local golf fans will be in for a treat this holiday season as the Chevron World Challenge presented by Bank of America returns to Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks.

The field for the 10th annual Chevron World Challenge, previously known as the Target World Challenge, was announced Monday at Sherwood.

Although the tournament will include 16 of golf's finest athletes, the on-course action will proceed without Tiger Woods, who is still recovering from knee surgery.

During Monday's live satellite feed, Woods explained that although he'd be on hand for the activities taking place Dec. 17 through 21, he would be there only as host.

"I will be cheering from the sidelines, getting in a cart and preparing for a senior tour," Woods said with a laugh.

"Do I wish I was competing? Yes and no," Woods said.

"I want to play, but right now I couldn't compete with anyone. I can't even swing a club yet. I might be able to take on other players in a putt-putt challenge, but I hear that windmill is really challenging."

Although Woods won't be able to hit the links, the course will still be filled with talented golfers, including Vijay Singh, Fred Couples and Justin Leonard.

Other pros competing include Stephen Ames, Paul Casey, K.J. Choi, Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Padraig Harrington, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan, Kenny Perry, Steve Stricker, Camilo Villegas, Boo Weekley and Mike Weir. Ben Curtis and Aaron Baddeley will serve as alternates.

Kim, Leonard, Weekley, Curtis, Mahan, Perry, Furyk and Stricker all competed for the U.S. Ryder Cup team during last month's victory over Europe.

Casey and Harrington put in solid performances for the European squad.

The winner of this year's tournament will earn $1.35 million. Last place receives $170,000.

The tournament benefits the Tiger Woods Learning Center and the Tiger Woods Foundation's nationwide character development program, Tiger's Action Plan.

Chevron recently signed a contract to sponsor the event through 2012.

"We are delighted to be the sponsor this year," Russ Yarow of Chevron said. "The lineup looks spectacular, and it looks to be a great event. The Tiger Woods Foundation has the ability to help young people, which are very important."

Woods, who won the tournament last year with a 22underpar, said when he first had knee surgery following his U.S. Open win in the summer that he knew he wouldn't be able to compete in the Chevron World Challenge.

"The thing with an ACL injury is that the healing process takes six months," Woods said. "I can't rotate the knee, and I can't play on it until it completely heals."

Woods also said that it's been difficult to watch other players win tournaments that he would have been defending the title for if not for the injury.

"I miss being out there with the guys; it's like a big fraternity out there," Woods said.

"It's tough to watch as well because I think the stretch I had before the injury was one of the best I ever had. I think I won nine of 10 or nine of 11 matches. That's not too bad."

For more information, call (800) 594-TIXX (8499) or visit www.chevronworldchallenge.org.