The PGA Tour has granted Tiger Woods a special sponsor exemption that will allow him to participate in the tour’s eight signature events each year. This exemption was created to acknowledge Woods’ remarkable career achievements, including his 82 career wins, tied for the most in tour history with Sam Snead, and his 15 major titles, second only to Jack Nicklaus’ 18. Woods has only competed in four events this year and has been outside the top 50 of the FedEx Cup rankings, making him ineligible to participate in these events under normal circumstances. However, the tour has made an exception for Woods due to his exceptional career accomplishments.
The signature events were created as a response to the birth of LIV Golf and discussions with the Saudi-funded league along with feedback from PGA Tour players. These limited-field events feature higher purses and more FedEx Cup points up for grabs. The events included in this season’s signature event series are The Sentry, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Wells Fargo Championship, Memorial Tournament, and the Travelers Championship, which is taking place this weekend. With the special exemption, Woods will be able to compete in these prestigious events, despite his current FedEx Cup ranking placing him outside of eligibility.
Woods’ participation in the U.S Open, where he missed the cut, led to speculation about his future in competitive golf. The 48-year-old golfer has had a difficult stretch since winning the Masters in 2019, failing to secure a top-20 finish in 13 majors since then. This is his longest such streak since his early career when he struggled in his first six majors in 1995 and 1996. Woods has confirmed that he will be playing in the upcoming Open Championship, which will be his final tournament of the year, and has left his return to competitive golf open-ended, stating he will come back “whenever I come back.”
The Open Championship will take place at Royal Troon starting on July 18. Woods’ last notable finish in the tournament was a T6 in 2018, and he has not made the cut in recent events. He missed the 2021 and 2023 Open Championships and did not participate in the 2020 event due to its cancellation. Despite his recent struggles, Woods remains a highly regarded figure in the golf world, and his presence in the signature events will undoubtedly generate significant interest and excitement among fans and players alike.
In his post-tournament interview, Woods hinted that the U.S Open may or may not have been his last appearance, leaving his future in competitive golf uncertain. With his participation in the PGA Tour’s signature events and the upcoming Open Championship, fans will have the opportunity to see Woods compete on the course once again. His influence and impact on the sport of golf are undeniable, and his presence in such high-profile events adds to the excitement and prestige of the tournaments. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Woods, but his legacy in the sport is well established, and his return to competitive golf is eagerly anticipated by fans and players alike.
