The PGA Tour has announced that it has voted in favour of introducing a new rule that directly benefits Tiger Woods.
As it stands in 2024, Woods has only made appearances at four events, the three majors and a familiar tournament in the shape of the Genesis Invitational.
On the back of withdrawing from the latter through illness, Woods made the cut at The Masters before finishing 60th, but he failed to make the weekend at each of the US PGA Championship and US Open.
Woods is expected to make an appearance at The Open Championship in July, the assumption being that it will represent his next tournament.
However, the PGA Tour has revealed that the 48-year-old will now have more options to select from after deciding to change their rules for 2025.
The eight signature events on the PGA Tour are currently limited to the top 70 players in the World Golf Rankings, with Woods in the 800s.
Given his physical limitations due to the injuries sustained in a car crash back in 2021, Woods is highly unlikely to ever get near that threshold.
Instead, the PGA Tour will now introduce a sponsors exemption so that players who have 80 or more career victories – essentially just Woods – can enter any of the eight tournaments should he choose to do so.
In a statement, the PGA Tour said: “The other adjustment to the Signature Events will introduce a Sponsor Exemption for Lifetime Achievement – 80 or more career victories – to recognise Tiger Woods in his own category.
“Among his 82 career wins, Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard eight times and the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday five times. Both are Signature Events.”
As for the first alteration in the rulings, the PGA Tour have stated that alternates will be called up to fill any places vacated by players eligible for a specific tournament.
Woods has previously indicated that playing one tournament per month may be a possibility, and four appearances have been made since February 15.
Much will depend on the schedule. With the Arnold Palmer Invitational taking place just three weeks after the Genesis Invitational this year, Woods may have declined an offer.
The eight signature events for 2024 will all be held during the first half of the year, yet Woods would prioritise competing at majors over one of the other tournaments.
