Tiger Woods' long layoff is almost over.

The world's best golfer said in a statement yesterday that he will return for next month's Masters, the first major of the year on the PGA Tour, after some four months away from the game to deal with the fallout over his sex scandal.

Woods's last golfing appearance was in mid-November, when he won the Australian Masters. A couple weeks later, he was involved in a mysterious car crash outside his home that eventually led to revelations that he had been unfaithful to his wife, Elin, with multiple mistresses.

"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta," said Woods in a statement released yesterday.

The move will come as no surprise to savvy Woods watchers, who knew the exceptionally driven golfer would be loath to miss a major as he continues his drive to surpass Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major wins. Woods has 14.

The Masters is also one of the most controlled environments in golf, with heavy restrictions on both spectators and reporters that should shield Woods from heckling and aggressive questioning.

Speculation began to build last month, when Woods made his first public apology since the car crash, that the four-time Masters winner would return at Augusta. The Masters takes place April 8 to 11 and will air on ESPN and CBS.

Woods spent two months in intensive therapy--sex rehab, as the tabloids dubbed it--and his status with his wife remains uncertain.

What is certain is that ratings for next month's Masters will be absolutely huge. Woods is the most popular golfer in history, and three of the Masters' five highest-rated final rounds came when Woods won.

Now, with even non-golf fans eager to see how he will fare in his return, CBS will likely smash the tournament record set in 1997, when Woods won his first major. That year the Masters averaged a 14.1 Nielsen household rating for its final round.