19 June 2024 , 14:00
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Tiger Woods may have been handed a lifetime exemption to compete in the PGA Tour's Signature Events on Tuesday, but his playing career on the circuit still remains up in the air.
Woods' record-breaking efforts on the PGA Tour were recognised this week, after the circuit voted in favour of handing the 82-time winner a spot in its elevated tournaments for the rest of his playing days. The decision was made by the circuit's Policy Board, and was revealed in a player memo ahead of this week's Travelers Championship.
The memo read: "These exemptions are intended to capture players who are important to the tournament sponsor but who are not otherwise qualified.
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“To maximise these spots for the membership and to provide optimal flexibility for the tournament sponsor, the PAC supported adding an additional sponsor exemption recognising Tiger Woods in his own category as a player who has reached an exceptional lifetime achievement threshold of 80+ career wins.”
It does however remain to be seen just how often Woods will take advantage of the exemption that allows him to play in eight selected tournaments. The 15-time major champion has been forced to turn to a part-time playing schedule in recent years, after suffering injuries in a car accident in February 2021.
Since the accident, Woods has competed in just 10 events, with his latest coming at the US Open last week. From those 10 events, Woods has completed all 72 holes on just four occasions, having missed his second straight cu t at the third major of the year, following a testing week at Pinehurst No. 2.
Tiger Woods' future is up in the air (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)In the aftermath, Woods cast doubt over his future at the U.S. Open, contemplating as to whether he may have played in his home Open for the final time. “It’s one of those things where in order to win a golf tournament, you have to make the cut,” he told reporters.
“I can't win the tournament from where I'm at, so it certainly is frustrating. I thought I played well enough to be up there in contention. It just didn't work out. As far as my last Open Championship or U.S. Open Championship, I don't know what that is. It may or may not be.”
Earlier in the week, Woods revealed he finds himself in a predicament of wanting to play more golf to get his game major ready, all whilst balancing the issue over not overworking his body. I'm physically getting better as the year has gone on," the three-time US Open winner claimed.
"I just haven't been able to play as much because I just don't want to hurt myself pre, then I won't be able to play in the major championships. It's pick your poison, right? Play a lot with the potential of not playing, or not playing and fight being not as sharp."