MARANA, Ariz. (AP) -- Expect to see Tiger Woods as part of NBC Sports' coverage this weekend, even if he's not playing.

In the most anticipated return to golf since Ben Hogan recovered from a car accident, Woods ends his eight-month hiatus from knee surgery at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday. The first three rounds will be televised on The Golf Channel.

NBC Sports does not start its coverage until Saturday, and given the unpredictable nature of this event, Woods might be eliminated by then. In his nine times playing, he has reached the weekend only four times.

"We will have to deal with showing what happened to Tiger because this has gone from being a golf tournament to a news event," said Tommy Roy, the golf producer at NBC. "There's a lot of people who aren't going to be able to watch his play on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, if he makes it that far.

"People tuning in on the weekend, we'll document whether he's out or he's still alive," Roy said. "We'll make sure they have a chance to see that. There's a definite buzz about golf and about this event that we know will carry over to the weekend."

Whatever happens, Woods' return has worked out well for NBC.

Depending on how his knee reacts this week, Woods likely will next play the WGC-CA Championship at Doral or the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill -- maybe both -- which are broadcast by NBC Sports.

CBS Sports, the Tour's other network, will get its first crack at Woods at the Masters, which gets the highest ratings of any golf tournament.

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