PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida, Mar 23 (Reuters) Tiger Woods arrived at the course for the Players Championship first round today, a day after missing practice to visit his father.

The world number one had flown to California to be with 74-year-old Earl Woods, who has been battling prostate cancer since 1998.

His manager issued a statement saying the game's leading player was off site ''for personal reasons'' but that the American would return in time for his first-round tee time.

Woods's decision to play this week means he will maintain his usual build-up to the US Masters at Augusta National, where he is scheduled to defend his title from April 6-9.

Reuters SY RS2246