Tiger Woods has officially committed to play in the Buick Classic later this month at Westchester Country Club in Rye.

It will be Woods’ first appearance at the tourney since 1997, when he finished in a tie for 43rd place and won $4,568 just two months after capturing his first Masters title.

Golf’s No. 1 player, playing this week at the Memorial tournament in Dublin, Ohio, made the announcement on his revamped web site this week. Up to now, it was widely believed that Woods would make a rare appearance in the New York area but the golfer, following in his usual tight-lipped mode, refused to be pinned down on the topic.

The folks at the Buick Classic were hoping Tiger would prowl their fairways. They had been advertising a Woods appearance as “scheduled” for more than a week even though, publicly, at least, it wasn’t.

Woods usually doesn’t commit to a tourney until the Friday before it begins, which happens to be the PGA Tour deadline. The early guarantee for the Buick Classic is a rare occurrence.

Woods’ appearance at the Buick Classic will come one week after the U.S. Open at Tulsa, Okla. It certainly will swell ticket sales and television ratings. He rarely golfs in the New York area.

In 1997, Woods was two months removed from his first Masters title and was an emerging superstar. When Tiger tees off on June 21, he’ll do so as an international sports superstar, the top paid athlete on the planet, one who can pick and choose which tournaments around the world he wants to participate in, and sure to draw a crowd.

The $80 weekly tickets are certain to be a hot commodity.

But the Woods appearance will not be without controversy.

Buick is a major Woods sponsor and Woods is likely to appear in three Buick events this year. Some believe the Buick deal and Woods’ appearances amount to appearance fees, which are not allowed by the PGA Tour.

Team Tiger, Woods’ management team, has denied any such agreement.