Tiger Woods moving charity tournament to Florida

Tiger Woods’ upcoming charity golf tournament in Thousand Oaks will be the last in Southern California before moving to Windermere, Fla.

The 18-player World Challenge invitational has been held annually since 2000 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks. This year’s event, scheduled for Dec. 5-8, features Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, defending champion Graeme McDowell and Woods competing for $1 million.

But next fall, the tournament will move to Isleworth Golf & Country Club, the Tiger Woods Foundation announced Friday.

“We’ve enjoyed 15 amazing years in Southern California,” Woods said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to this next phase of the World Challenge and what it can bring to Florida.”

Woods, raised in Orange County, regularly visited Sherwood. But much of his professional career has centered on Florida’s Orange County, including practicing at Isleworth. Until 2011, Woods also lived in the gated community west of Orlando, and his famous car accident in 2009 happened on its streets.

The World Challenge tournament will merge with the Isleworth’s Tavistock Cup. Investment firm Tavistock Group owns the Florida course, and the new partnership could help the World Challenge find sponsors. Woods reportedly self-funded last year’s purse. Insurance company Northwestern Mutual is backing this year’s event, and oil company Chevron has in the past.

“The World Challenge has become a marquee golf tournament,” said Andy Odenbach, Tavistock Group’s vice president of sports venture. “We are honored to build on its strong history and host the players, sponsors and fans.”

The East Coast shift follows a similar one for Greg Norman’s Shark Shootout, which was held at Sherwood for 11 years untill 1999. Norman’s tournament moved to Miami and later Naples, Fla.

Woods’ last major tie to the region will be his golf learning center in Anaheim. His Irvine-based foundation hosts lessons and summer camps at the center, teaching children about science and technology along with golf. About one-third of the $75 million raised by his foundation has come from the World Challenge.

McDowell won last year’s rain-soaked tournament three shots ahead of Keegan Bradley, finishing at 17 under par. McDowell and Davis Love III have both won the tournament twice. Woods, who donates back his winnings, has won the challenge title five times, most recently in 2011.

Ticket prices start at $30 for Dec. 5 and $40 for the final three rounds.

paresh.dave@latimes.com

Twitter: @peard33