Tiger Woods will be granted a special exemption into PGA Tour Signature Events starting next year, as approved by the U.S.-based circuit’s Policy Board. This special recognition acknowledges Woods’ extraordinary career with more than 80 wins, allowing him to participate despite his limited schedule due to injuries.Tiger Woods will be given a special exemption into PGA Tour Signature Events starting next year, the U.S.-based circuit’s Policy Board approved during a meeting on Tuesday. According to a memo obtained by Reuters, an additional Signature Events sponsor exemption will be created to recognize Woods in his own category having reached an exceptional lifetime achievement threshold of more than 80 career wins.The 48-year-old, who counts 15 majors among his 82 wins on the PGA Tour, has been playing a limited schedule for years due to several injuries and has not automatically qualified for these events. In his four starts this year, Woods has withdrawn from one event, finished last among those who made the cut at the Masters and then missed the cut at the PGA Championship and last week’s U.S. Open.Signature Events are limited-field tournaments featuring top players with increased prize money. In 2024, three of the eight Signature events featured a 36-hole cut while the remaining five did not have a cut. For 2024, the top 50 players from the previous season’s FedExCup points list through the Tour Championship were eligible to participate in all Signature Events this year.Kane Williamson quits captaincy, declines New Zealand Cricket central contractNew Zealand batter Kane Williamson declined the central contract for the 2024-25 year but emphasised his long-term commitment to the Blackcaps.New Zealand batter Kane Williamson declined the central contract for the 2024-25 year but emphasised his long-term commitment to the Blackcaps. New Zealand Cricket on Wednesday released a statement to confirm that the veteran batter opted out of the central contract for the 2024-25 season.Speculations were building around Williamson’s future after New Zealand suffered a heartbreak following an early exit in the ongoing T20 World Cup. With 358 appearances for the Kiwis in his decorated career, the 33-year-old opted out of the contract list and white-ball captaincy in a bid to extend his international career.”Helping push the team forward across the formats is something I’m very passionate about and something I want to keep contributing towards. However, pursuing an overseas opportunity during the New Zealand summer means I’m unable to accept a central contract offer,” Williamson said as quoted from a statement by New Zealand Cricket. New Zealand’s schedule for the 2024-25 season won’t be hectic as the Kiwis have minimal bilateral series commitments till the January window.But Williamson will remain available for the eight World Test Championship matches that New Zealand will engage in in a bid to once again play in the final, which will be played next year at the Lord’s in June. In November end, New Zealand will play the first Test of the three-match series against England on home soil.But before they embark on their WTC journey, Williamson is pleased to find a way to balance his personal and professional life as he continues to strive to play for his nation. “Playing for New Zealand is something I treasure, and my desire to give back to the team remains undiminished. My life outside cricket has changed however – spending more time with my family and enjoying experiences with them at home or abroad is something that’s even more important to me,” he added.NZC CEO Scott Weenink acknowledged Williamson’s contributions and feels that their experienced star had earned the right to take some time off to pursue other goals, which included family-oriented priorities. “This is a good way to help keep Kane in the international game so that he continues to play a major role for the BLACKCAPS – both now and in the years to come. We have very little international cricket in New Zealand through January, and outside that period he’s still available for the BLACKCAPS,” Weenink said.”NZC has a strong preference to select centrally contracted players for the BLACKCAPS, however, we’re happy to make an exception for our greatest-ever batter – especially as he remains so committed to the team. I know it sounds a bit counterintuitive, but I’m very encouraged by this development,” he added. New Zealand concluded their T20 World Cup campaign with a convincing 7-wicket win over Papua New Guinea. BLACKCAPSScott WeeninkKane WilliamsonCentral ContractFamily CommitmentsNew Zealand CricketWhite-ball CaptaincyInternational CricketWorld Test ChampionshipPersonal and Professional Balance”Great player”: WI icon Wes Hall hails Kohli, gifts him his book ‘Answering to the Call’West Indies iconic speedster Wes Hall met stalwart batter Virat Kohli and gave him his book ‘Answering to the call’ ahead of India’s Super 8 clash against Afghanistan at Kensington Oval, Barbados.By Vipul Kashyap West Indies iconic speedster Wesley Hall met stalwart batter Virat Kohli and gifted him his book ‘Answering to the Call’ ahead of India’s Super 8 clash.India will begin the Super 8 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup against Afghanistan at Kensington Oval, Barbados, on Thursday. On the eve of the clash, Hall, who was known for his sheer pace in his playing days, met the modern-day star Kohli and gifted him his book.He also had a brief conversation with Kohli, heaped praise on Kohli, called him a “great player”, and hoped that he would continue to play for India. Published in November 2022, ‘Answering to the Call’ revolves around Hall’s illustrious cricketing career and his journey to become one of the top pacers in the history of the game.The second part of the book was released earlier this year which reveals Hall’s time as a senator and a politician. Along with Kohli, head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma received Hall’s book. “I gave three books today. I gave a book to the captain (Rohit Sharma) and another one to the coach (Rahul Dravid) and Virat Kohli. All three of them are great players. It’s good to see people getting rewarded. Sometimes, you are a good player, and you haven’t made it. I think they have done very well for India,” Hall told ANI.After failing to seal their berth in the final of the marquee event in the previous edition, India will be keen to bolster their chances of lifting the title. India won the inaugural competition in 2007 under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Fans still remember the moment when Dhoni handed the ball to Joginder Sharma to bowl the final over against their arch-rival Pakistan.Pakistan fancied their chances to run away with the trophy with 13 needed in six deliveries and Misbah-ul-Haq on the crease. Joginder successfully defended the total and played a crucial part in India’s incredible title run. In the ongoing edition, India are flawless in the group stage and will look to maintain their unbeaten record as the level of challenges increases.
