Staff Reporter.
The PGA Tour announced on Tuesday it had created a special exemption for Tiger Woods alone, allowing for qualification to certain events on its schedule.
Woods is the only active player who falls into this bracket with 82 career victories. The 15-time major champion is tied for the most ever PGA Tour victories with Sam Snead.
On Tuesday, the PGA’s policy board voted to grant Woods a special exemption to play the eight lucrative tournaments, which do not include majors.
“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,” a PGA Tour memo said.
The American is tied with Sam Snead for the most overall victories on the tour, while his 15 wins in majors is second on the all-time list to Jack Nicklaus (18).
Woods has featured in just nine tournaments since a car crash in February 2021, which left him requiring surgery after suffering serious leg injuries.
In his four appearances in PGA Tour competitions this year, Woods has only made the cut once – finishing 60th at the Masters.
He withdrew in the middle of the Genesis Invitational due to illness and missed the cut at the PGA Championship and last week’s US Open. Woods is expected to play at the Open Championship in Scotland in July.