Tiger Woods will be permitted to compete in all of the signature PGA Tour tournaments for the rest of his life in recognition of his outstanding achievements.
The PGA Tour has revealed that Tiger Woods has been granted a lifetime exemption into all of the’signature’ events.
Rumours regarding this began circulating prior to the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No.2.
However, it has now been announced that the Hall of Famer will be free to choose whatever major tournaments he wishes to play after a new category was created specifically for him.
The announcement was made in a memo to PGA Tour members, which read: “An additional sponsor exemption will be created to recognise Tiger Woods in his own category as a player who has reached an exceptional lifetime achievement threshold of 80-plus career wins.”
Woods has won 82 PGA Tour titles and 15 major championships.
He is tied with Sam Snead for the most overall Tour wins. Only Jack Nicklaus has won more majors (18).
Woods’ career appeared to be ended after he crashed his expensive SUV in the Los Angeles Hills in February 2021.
He received catastrophic injuries to his right leg and later said that doctors warned him his limb had a 50% chance of being amputated.
However, he fought hard in rehab and made a remarkable return to men’s professional golf at the 2022 Masters.
Since then, Woods has only made nine tournament starts. He also had more surgery on his right ankle.
He has only made one cut this year, and it came at Augusta National.
Woods had to withdraw from the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in February because to illness.
He missed the cut at both the PGA Championship and last week’s US Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
Woods was questioned whether he would benefit from playing more in between major championships.
However, the 48-year-old ruled out competing more frequently due to concerns about injury.
“I’m physically getting better as the year has gone on,” Woods told reporters.
“I just haven’t been able to play as much because I don’t want to injure myself and then be unable to compete in major events.
“Pick your poison, right? Play a lot with the possibility of not playing, or not playing and fighting with less skill.”