Inside this current week, the PGA Tour introduced a special and serious exemption category for Tiger Woods to participate in it’s events, saying his “exceptional lifetime achievement” in golf. Woods, who has won 82 PGA Tour events and holds a lifetime membership by surpassing the Tour’s 20-victory threshold, also face additional requirements and criterias for the special occasions.
Tiger Woods, is said to be actually the biggest draw in golf and possibly in all of sports of the world, does not meet the requirements right now and does not play enough to give himself a chance to really qualify for it. Previously before now, he collected and signed sponsor exemptions to participate in any signature events he feels like playing. But, sponsor exemptions have faced widespread criticism in golf, with some people saying confidently that they should be eliminated altogether at the same time.
The PGA Tour’s decision acknowledges Woods past greatness and the lucrative signature events and the popularity of modern golf largely stem from Woods ushering the sport into a whole new era.
In this week, the PGA Tour have been able to establish a special exemption category for Tiger Woods to participate in it’s special occasion , citing his “exceptional lifetime achievement” in golf. Woods, whom is a 15 time major champion with 82 Tour wins, holds a lifetime membership by surpassing the Tour’s 20-victory requirement, but signature events have additional qualifications.This eight limited field (and sometimes no-cut) tournaments, featuring $20 million purses and $4 million winner’s shares, are reserved for the Tour’s top golfers.
To qualify for this, players must be among the top 50 in the previous season’s FedEx Cup points list, the top 30 in the current Official World Golf Rankings or those considered to be playing the best golf that season.Despite being a biggest draw in golf, Woods does not meet these criteria and does not play enough to qualify. Previously, he has had received sponsor exemptions to enter any signature events he wished to play in.
The PGA Tour’s decision recognizes both Tiger Woods past greatness that the lucrative signature events and the popularity of modern day golf largely owe to Tiger Woods impact in ushering the sport into a new, and fresh era.Despite this new exemption category, Woods is not likely to participate in any signature events.
He Tiger Woods has only started four out of all the tournaments this year, including one special event, the Genesis Invitational in February, where he withdrew in the second round for the sake of his illness. After missing out at the U.S. Open last week,Tiger Woods was not quite very sure about his future on the PGA Tour.”I’ve only got one more tournament this season,” he said. “… I don’t think, even if I win the British Open, I’ll be in the FedEx Cup playoffs. Just one more event and then I’ll come back whenever I come back.”
