The PGA Tour policy board has approved a special exemption for Woods, recognizing his exceptional career achievement of over 80 wins. This exemption allows him to participate in all eight signature tournaments for the rest of his career. These events feature substantial prize money and limited fields.
At 48 years old, Woods has 15 major titles among his 82 PGA Tour wins but has played a limited schedule due to numerous injuries. He hasn’t automatically qualified for these events in recent years. Since his return at the 2022 Masters, Woods has competed in only nine official PGA Tour events, mostly majors. The only non-major event he has entered is the Genesis Invitational, which he hosts.
This year, Woods has struggled with his performances. He withdrew from one event, finished last among those who made the cut at the Masters, and missed the cut at both the PGA Championship and the US Open.
The PGA Tour wants Woods to play in the most significant tournaments and has facilitated this by creating a lifetime achievement exemption category. This category ensures Woods spots in all signature events starting next season. This change also allows tournament hosts to offer sponsor exemptions to other players.
Additionally, the policy board approved changes for signature events, including hosting 72 players and maintaining an alternate player list in case of withdrawals. These changes will be introduced in 2025.
While some might view this exemption as giving Woods unearned opportunities, his 82 career wins and ability to draw large audiences justify the decision. This doesn’t mean Woods will play in every signature event or all four majors each season. His schedule will likely remain limited, but he now has greater freedom to choose his tournaments.
Woods’ next and final start for 2024 is expected to be at The Open at Royal Troon in July.