**Tiger Woods is reportedly targeting a return to golf at the WGC Match Play Championship in Arizona on 18 February.**World number one Woods, 34, who has won 14 majors, has not appeared in public since crashing his car last November and later admitting to “infidelity”.
“Rumours of his return surfaced in Australia and were initially greeted with scepticism, but persist,” said BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter.
“It would be a surprise but a reliable source says he will play in Arizona.”
Woods, announced on 12 December 2009 that he was taking an indefinite break from playing golf to tackle problems in his private life.
His last tournament was the Australian Masters in Melbourne, which he won in November.
The Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper reports that his management team has approached organisers about the logistics of playing in Arizona.
Woods has automatic entry for the event which features the world’s top 64 players.
But any comeback would need extra planning because of the intense media interest in him.
On Thursday, six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo told the BBC that returning to tournament golf would prove Woods’ “saviour”.
“I’d have thought he’d be dying to get back, I don’t believe he’ll give up the opportunity to play in the majors,” he said.
Meanwhile, world number two Phil Mickelson urged Woods to come back to the PGA Tour, saying “the game of golf needs him”.
US golf legend Jack Nicklaus said Woods would find it harder to break his record of 18 majors if he does not compete this year.
And on Wednesday five-time Open champion Tom Watson urged Woods to “show some humility” when he does finally choose to return.