AP
With Tiger Woods out injured, Vijay Singh won the 2008 Chevron World Challenge.
Woods, who doubles as tournament host, previously won the event in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007. He missed last year's tournament while recovering from knee surgery.
The elite, 18-player field will vie for a first-place prize of $1.35 million. For the first time since the tournament's inception in 1999, World Golf Ranking points will be awarded.
"I think that has helped us attract the best field we've ever had," said Woods, coming off a two-stroke victory at the JBWere Masters in Australia. "It should be an exciting week for the fans and I'm looking forward to competing."
Three of 2009's four major winners are entered: Lucas Glover (U.S. Open); Stewart Cink (British Open); and Y.E. Yang (PGA Championship).
Lee Westwood, fresh off a six-stroke win in the Dubai World Championship last Sunday, will also tee it up. That triumph, highlighted by a course-record 64 in the final round, clinched the European Tour's first Race to Dubai title, formerly known as the European Order of Merit.
Defending champion Vijay Singh will also participate. Last year, he made an eight-foot birdie putt on the difficult par-4 18th to edge Steve Stricker by one stroke. Singh shot rounds of 71-72-67-67 to finish at 11-under 277.
The field includes Stricker, a three-time winner this year and the third-ranked player in the world, and 2002 champ Padraig Harrington. Paul Casey, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Anthony Kim, Sean O'Hair, Kenny Perry, Ian Poulter, Camilo Villegas and Mike Weir are also participating.
All proceeds from the tournament go to the support of the Tiger Woods Foundation, including the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Orange County, Calif. For tickets, call 1-800-594-8499 or visit www.chevronworldchallenge.com.