The PGA Tour has given golf icon Tiger Woods an exemption to compete in major events and is “making progress” on investment talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), according to a report.
Former world number one Woods has won 82 PGA Tour events but would not automatically qualify for majors such as the Masters, where he is a six-time champion, because of his inactivity.
The tour’s policy board approved a special sponsor exemption for Woods during a joint meeting with the PGA Tour Enterprises board of directors on Tuesday, ESPN has said.
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A purported memo says the move is based on Woods’ “exceptional lifetime achievement” and will allow the 48-year-old to take part in events offering considerably higher prize money and FedEx Cup points.
Tiger Woods golf injuries
Woods has rarely featured on the tour since suffering serious injuries in a car crash in February 2021.
The sporting icon has played in nine PGA Tour events in three seasons and withdrew from February’s Genesis Invitational, which he hosts in support of his foundation, through illness.
@TigerWoods and @collin_morikawa brought the party back for another year during the #TigerJam exhibition. PIC.TWITTER.COM/QSXUXN9KK0
— TGR Live (@TGRLiveEvents) JUNE 1, 2024
Woods expects to play in the Open Championship in Scotland from July 18 and has said he has “one more tournament this season”.
“Even if I win the British Open, I don’t think I’ll be in the [FedEx Cup] play-offs,” he added. “Just one more event and then I’ll come back whenever I come back.”
Saudi PIF talks
The outlet also reported that tour commissioner Jay Monahan had updated members on negotiations with the PIF, which has given the rival LIV Golf League huge financial power during the last three years.
Woods is said to have been part of a transaction subcommittee which met PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and others in New York on June 7.
“As we’ve said in the past, we can’t negotiate in public,” Monahan reportedly said in the memo. “But we are making progress.
“During that meeting, we reached consensus on several items – but both parties recognise there is still work to do to reach a final agreement.
“Our talks are ongoing with the goal of developing a shared vision for the future of professional golf that is pro-competitive and provides players with the best global opportunities.”
