Orlando (AFP) - Patrick Reed, a three-time winner on the USPGA Tour last season, was named Wednesday to replace fellow-American Jim Furyk in next week's World Challenge charity event hosted by Tiger Woods.
Former world number one Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, has not played since the PGA Championship last August as he recovers from back injuries that sidelined him for most of 2014.
But Woods plans to make his return at the 18-player invitational event at Isleworth.
Woods is a five-time winner of the event, in which Zach Johnson is defending champion.
Furyk, the 2009 Challenge winner, withdrew from the event citing back problems. Reed was the next available player in the 2013-14 season-ending rankings.
The line-up also includes Masters champion Bubba Watson, Sweden's Henrik Stenson, Australia's Jason Day, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and England's Justin Rose, the 2013 US Open champion.
