Woods can equal Sam Snead's tour record of eight victories in the same event with a win next week at Firestone.
UPDATED: 7 p.m.
Tiger Woods after sinking a birdie putt at last year's Bridgestone Invitational.AKRON, Ohio -- Tiger Woods on Wednesday committed to play in next week's World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club.
The tournament received an unexpected boost, though, when flamboyant Anthony Kim also announced his intentions to play in the $8.5 million event on the famed South Course.
The Bridgestone will be Kim's first event since he withdrew from The Players Championship in May with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. The 25-year-old from Los Angeles underwent surgery a short time later.
Before that, the three-time winner on the PGA Tour was having a solid season, with a victory in the Shell Houston Open, a solo runner-up finish at the Honda Classic and two other top-10 finishes. This will be Kim's third straight appearance at Firestone, where he finished in a tie for 36th in each of his first two starts.
A tournament official said Carl Pettersson, the winner of last week's RBC Canadian Open, will not play at Firestone, citing a previous commitment.
Woods, whose appearance is a blessing for any tournament, has won seven times on the South Course, including last year's four-stroke victory over Padraig Harrington and Robert Allenby. In 10 previous starts at Firestone, the No. 1-ranked player in the world is a cumulative 103 strokes under par, with 29 rounds in the 60s. The Bridgestone will be his first tournament since he finished in a tie for 23rd in the British Open two weeks ago. He has taken more than $9 million out of Akron.
Woods, whose troubles have been well documented since November, can climb to within one victory of tying Jack Nicklaus on the all-time list. Woods has 71 career wins and trails only Nicklaus (73) and Sam Snead (81). In seven starts in 2010, Woods has two top 10s, with his best result a tie for fourth at the Masters. Eligible players have until 5 p.m. Friday to officially commit to playing at Firestone.