The high-stakes exhibition event, which is to be broadcasted by GOLFTV, is set to tee off during the week of the Zozo Championship in October – the first-ever official PGA TOUR event to be played in Japan.

The event, dubbed ‘The Challenge: Japan Skins’, marks the first in a series of annual Challenge events that are set to become an exciting addition to the global golf calendar.

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Woods has not competitively swung a club since last months BMW Championship with his next appearance set to be in Japan.

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“I haven’t been back to Japan since 2006 and the golf fans there are some of the best in the world. It’s a unique format and a top field with Rory, Jason and Hideki. I can’t wait to play against them on a global stage."

The four players will be battling it out for a total purse of $350,000, with the first six holes worth $10,000, and hole values escalating to as much as $100,000 on the final hole. The winner of "The Challenge: Japan Skins" is the player who takes home the most money.

McIlroy, fresh from scooping £12m for his FedExCup title, is looking forward to the excitement the format delivers and fancies his chances.

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“There are so many fun elements to The Challenge that will have me wanting to take home that title – playing with Hideki on his home turf; Tiger coming back to Japan with a Green Jacket—the motivation is certainly there for me, and I’m a huge fan of the skins format.

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“I love the way it rewards attacking play and think it suits my game quite well. Any time I can go directly at pins to try and make birdies and eagles, I think it puts me at an advantage.”

Viewers from outside the US can watch the four-man battle ensue via GOLFTV.