Woods paired with Clarke at WGC-Bridgestone By GolfChannel.com Team August 1, 2011 6:01 PM ET . In his long-awaited return from injury at this week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Tiger Woods will be paired with Darren Clarke during the first two rounds at Firestone Country Club, Golf Channel has learned. Woods has a long friendship with Clarke that dates back to his early professional years. Just last month, the 14-time major champion sent him encouraging text messages prior to the final round of the Open Championship, then followed with congratulatory messages one day later. . In 2000, Clarke defeated Woods in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. The two have been paired many times since, including during the third round of last year’s Open Championship. Woods has not completed a tournament since finishing in a share of fourth place at the Masters four months ago, where he suffered leg and Achilles injuries after hitting a shot from beneath the Eisenhower Tree on the 17th hole in Round 3. He played nine holes at The Players Championship in May, but withdrew after posting a 6-over 42 for nine holes. On Monday, he practiced at Atlanta Athletic Club, site of next week’s PGA Championship. He will be in Akron, Ohio, for a scheduled 10 a.m. ET news conference on Tuesday prior to playing in the Bridgestone, an event he has won seven times in 11 previous attempts