Tiger Woods begins the route

WINDERMERE - Tiger Woods will play the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for the first time since 2002 to make his 2012 PGA Tour season debut, he announced Monday.

The former world No. 1, who is attempting to return to the summit of international golf after a spectacular fall from grace on and off the course, will play the event from Feb. 9-12.

"I'm excited to start my PGA Tour season at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am," Woods said on his website. "I haven't been to this tournament lately, but I have a lot of good memories at Pebble. It will be fun going back."

Woods said he first saw Pebble Beach with his late father, Earl, when he was playing junior golf.

"It's always been one of my favorite spots. It might be the prettiest place on earth," he said.

Woods, who broke a two-year victory drought by winning his foundation's tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., late last year, will begin his new season Jan. 26 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at the HSBC Championship.

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