BETHESDA - Tiger Woods is helping out longtime friend Notah Begay III, agreeing to play in his charity Skins Game at Turning Stone Resort next month to support Native American youth.

BETHESDA - Tiger Woods is helping out longtime friend Notah Begay III, agreeing to play in his charity Skins Game at Turning Stone Resort next month to support Native American youth.

Begay declined to comment and kept his head down when asked if Woods was playing in his event, then stopped 20 yards later and said with a smile, "I need to win some skins."

" Woods' agent at IMG confirmed he would be playing on August 24 in the Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge. The world's No1 player will join Stanford team-mate Begay, former Masters champion Mike Weir and Camilo Villegas.

A year ago, the event raised $180000 for Begay's foundation, which supports youth sports and wellness programs for Native Americans in New Mexico and other states.

Woods had planned to play in Begay's event a year ago but was forced to miss the second half of the season with knee surgery. - Sapa-AP