Jim Furyk defends title in Tiger Woods’ tournament

Tiger Woods’ charity golf tournament starts Thursday with Woods playing in the Thousand Oaks event for the first time in three years against a field he says is “the deepest, the strongest it’s ever been.”

The four-day Chevron World Challenge features 18 golfers playing the Jack Nicklaus-designed Sherwood Country Club course, a 7,027-yard, par-72 course layout nestled against the Santa Monica Mountains.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation while providing a $5-million purse for the players, ranging from $1.2 million for the winner to $140,000 for last place. Woods is a four-time winner of the event.

Defending champion Jim Furyk, who birdied the 18th hole in the final round last year to beat Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland by one shot, returns for the 12th edition of the tournament, as does McDowell, who won this year’s U.S. Open.

The victory at Sherwood was Furyk’s first in more than two years and he went on to win the FedEx Cup this year.

His win at Woods’ tournament “was definitely the catalyst” for his strong season, Furyk said Wednesday after playing in the tournament’s pro-am. But Furyk said he had “put the clubs away” since playing on the U.S. team in the Ryder Cup in early October, so “I’m not expecting a lot” this weekend.

“I actually played pretty well today, and it’s kind of hit or miss right now,” he said. “I’m a little rusty with my game.”

Matt Kuchar, the PGA Tour’s leading money winner this season with $4.9 million in earnings, is playing in his first Chevron World Challenge.

Other players include Paul Casey, Stewart Cink, Luke Donald, Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan, Rory McIlroy, Sean O’Hair, Ian Poulter, Steve Stricker, Camilo Villegas and Bubba Watson.

Martin Kaymer, winner of this year’s PGA Championship, withdrew and was replaced by Nick Watney.

The golfers tee off in the first round between 10:20 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. Thursday.

james.peltz@latimes.com