MELBOURNE – Tiger Woods will play the Australian Masters in Melbourne in November, a report said Wednesday.

Victorian state premier John Brumby told the Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper the world number one golfer will grace the Kingston Heath course.

"We are delighted Tiger Woods has chosen to come to Melbourne, further cementing our position as the major events capital of the world," Brumby was quoted as saying on the newspaper's website.

Woods is expected to command an appearance fee of around three million US dollars.

Brumby said the visit would earn the state of Victoria millions of dollars in economic benefits that would easily cover Woods' fee.

It will be Woods's third trip to Melbourne.

"Some of the great golf courses in the world are right down there in Melbourne, that sand belt," Woods has said.

Woods returned to competitive golf earlier this month after an eight-month absence following major reconstructive surgery on his left knee in June.