Woods has not competed since The Players Championship in May, withdrawing after nine holes of 6-over golf following a reaggravation of left knee and Achilles injuries tweaked at The Masters.

The wait is over. No, not a debt ceiling deal, but learning when Tiger Woods will play next. On his website on Thursday evening, Woods announced he would be playing in next week’s WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

“I’m excited to get back out there,” said Woods.

Woods tweeted, “Feeling fit and ready to tee it up at Firestone next week. Excited to get back out there!”

Woods has not competed since The Players Championship in May, withdrawing after nine holes of 6-over golf following a reaggravation of left knee and Achilles injuries tweaked at The Masters.

Golf Channel reports Woods will have pal Bryon Bell on the bag for the tournament. Bell has caddied for his childhood friend and employer twice – in 1999, when Woods was victorious at Torrey Pines, and at the same event in 2000 as a chance to “defend” that title. He was also the looper for Woods at Disney in 2003.

Bell was also cited in emails obtained by tabloid publications as the go-between for Tiger Woods and mistress Rachel Uchitel.

Woods is current ranked 21st in the world ranking, which is part of a slide stemming from his 11-week absence from action. He is also currently on the outside of the FedExCup playoffs, sitting at 133rd on the ladder and needing to be inside the top 125 to compete in at least one playoff event. The WGC Bridgestone Invitational is a no-cut event that Woods has won on seven occasions, which will assure him FedExCup and Official World Golf Ranking points.

On Tuesday of this week, Woods’ swing instructor Sean Foley told Rex Hoggard of GolfChannel.com, “I have seen him since then but we have just been chatting and setting a game plan for the future. This time off has been an excellent opportunity for us to put in place a plan with the big picture in mind.”

Woods, then, has hypothetically began hitting golf balls in the last 48 hours, or has been doing so for some time on his own, as his website says, “[Woods] just recently began hitting practice balls.”

The announcement did not share Woods’ status for the PGA Championship, played at Atlanta Athletic Club in the week after next week at Firestone CC.