Tiger Woods return to Quail Hollow brings excitement to Wells Fargo Championship

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tiger Woods tweeted Thursday that he has committed to playing in next week’s Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club, in south Charlotte.

[LINK: Wells Fargo Championship tickets and schedule]

The tournament tees off next Thursday, but Woods is expected to have a practice round on Wednesday.

Golfer Matt Younts has never attended the Wells Fargo Championship, but getting the opportunity to see Woods firsthand gives him a reason to purchase tickets.

"I grew up really loving watching Tiger play,” Younts said. “He's the reason I got into golf. He's why I played in college. It's really cool to see him come back."

Tournament director Gary Sobba told Channel 9 that ticket sales have soared since Woods announced he is golfing in Charlotte.

"We've had a six-to-seven times increase what we'd normally be just a week out," he said.

The course's security and concessions are set, but Sobba said he is now making extra transportation changes for the extra crowds.

"We will increase the number of buses that we have," Sobba said.

Woods, who has 79 career PGA Tour wins, including 14 majors, won the 2007 Wells Fargo Championship. He hasn’t played in the annual tournament since 2012.

According to a press release, in his six previous starts at the Wells Fargo Championship, he finished tied for third in 2004, tied for 11th in 2005, won the tournament in 2007, was fourth in 2009 and missed the cut in 2010 and 2012.

“Obviously, we are excited to have Tiger coming back to compete in our tournament but to also have him healthy and competing on the PGA Tour this year,” Sobba said. “His win here in 2007 was one of the memorable moments in our tournament history.”

Players have until Friday to commit to playing.

Woods announced Thursday he will be playing consecutive weeks at the Wells Fargo Championship and The Players Championship. It will be the third time since returning from back surgery that he plays back-to-back weeks.

"I've been on the driving range when Tiger walked out,” golf fan Alan Bobbitt said. “It was like a rock star walked out there, so it's no different than Elvis coming back to life."

Bobbitt said it doesn't matter how Tiger plays next week, he’s still arguably the biggest name in golf and will draw huge TV ratings nationwide and huge crowds at Quail Hollow.

"It's going to bring more people into the city,” Bobbitt said. “They're going to hit balls at the driving ranges and stop off at restaurants.”

Woods tied for 32nd at the Masters, failing to break par until the final round.

Since returning from a fourth back surgery, he has missed only one cut in the six tournaments he has played. Woods was runner-up by one shot at the Valspar Championship.

An average of 35,000 people annually attend the tournament at Quail Hollow.

Cox Media Group