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On Monday, Tiger Woods announced he’d be going places he’s never gone before in October, committing to make his first appearance at the Frys.com Open in Northern California. It will be the first time Tiger has ever competed in a Fall Series event, second-tier events that take place after the PGA Tour’s postseason, but he says he’s raring to go after missing out on this year’s FedExCup playoffs.

Tiger quotes from his website:

I always enjoy competing in my home state, and this tournament fits my schedule perfectly. I’m looking forward to seeing some old friends. … John Fry and his company have supported the tour, and I’ve heard good things about the event and the golf course. One of my goals this year was to participate in a tournament I hadn’t played before, and now, I will. … Any time [defending Frys.com Open champion] Rocco Mediate is in the field, it’s always fun … It’s been a long time between the PGA [Championship, Tiger’s last tournament] and Frys, and I’ll be anxious to compete.

The decision gives Tiger two tuneups before competing on the US Team at the Presidents Cup. Earlier this month, US captain Fred Couples had said Tiger “needed” at least one more event on his schedule, but it’s interesting that Tiger didn’t make his announcement until after Couples committed to using one of his captain’s picks to add Tiger to the US Team.

The Frys.com Open is only about 45 miles south of Stanford, Tiger’s alma mater. Since 2002, Tiger has only played in Northern California three times: winning the WGC-American Express and playing for the winning US Team in the 2009 Presidents Cup (both in San Francisco’s Harding Park, and placing fourth in last year’s US Open at Pebble Beach.