The PGA Tour granted a special sports exemption to the legendary Tiger Woods thanks to his past successes on the golf course.
The professional golf tour has become the rule of thumb for 15-time major champion Tiger Woods as the 48-year-old’s rating continues to decline.
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On Tuesday night, the PGA Tour announced the creation of a sports exemption for Woods, and Woods alone, due to his “exceptional lifetime achievement.”
The rule will allow Woods to participate in all eight exclusive events.
The special exemption will come into force in 2025, according to this week’s Traveller’s Championship marks the final event of the season.
Exclusive events have limited participants, bigger prizes money like this FedEx Cup Points.
Without the exemption, Woods would not be able to qualify for the exclusive events because he has not played enough competitive golf since returning to the tournament due to injuries he suffered in a car accident in 2021.
The PGA Tour policy board approved Woods’ special sponsor exception during a joint meeting with the PGA Tour Enterprises board of directors on Tuesday.
This year, 82-time PGA Tour winner Woods will compete at The Sentry, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Wells Fargo Championship, Memorial Tournament and Travelers Championship.
The exclusive events total US$20 million in scholarships.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan revealed in a memo that the political board was considering implementing a 36-hole cut in each of the signature events.
The Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational and Memorial are just 36 holes.
While the council has not taken any action on the matter, they will continue to discuss the matter.
Woods has played in just nine official PGA Tour events in the past three years since competing in the 2022 Masters.
The only non-major event he saw action in was the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club outside of Los Angeles.
Woods hosts the event and benefits his foundation.
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In February, the golf icon withdrew from the second round of the Genesis Invitational due to illness.
Woods was ranked 60th at the Masters.
And he missed the cut at last week’s PGA Championship and U.S. Open.
Woods said he plans to participate in next Open Championship of the month.
The event is scheduled for July 18-21 at the Royal Troon Golf Course in Scotland.
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