MIAMI (Reuters) - Tiger Woods' wife, Elin, made her first appearance at a public event since scandal engulfed her husband in late November, visiting the Sony Ericsson Open tennis outside Miami with her son Charlie.

Woods sat with her one-year-old son and watched the game between American Andy Roddick and Spain's Rafael Nadal in 'club' seating wearing large sunglasses, a black top and white trousers.

A witness said she had entered the Key Biscayne tennis center with two bodyguards and had also watched the late night women's match on Thursday between Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.

Tiger Woods is due to return to competitive golf next week at the U.S. Masters in Augusta.

(Writing by Simon Evans; Editing by Sandra Maler)