Tiger Woods Granted Sponsor Exemption for Hero World Challenge

American golfer Tiger Woods has been granted permission to play in the Hero World Challenge later this year, despite not being in the Top-50 of the Official World Golf Rankings.

We guess it would be a bit strange if the host of an event was fit to play and couldn’t participate. Hence, it makes sense Woods would seek claim on one of two sponsor exemptions for the event. The Hero World Challenge is close to the golfer’s heart, having been set up in 1999 by Woods and his late father Earl, the event also benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation.

“Given the fact that the Tiger Woods Foundation owns and runs the event, that Tiger hosts the event, that he’s been critical to the success of the Tiger Woods Foundation and he’s won the tournament five times, we felt the request was reasonable,” explained the PGA Tour’s executive vice president, Ty Votaw. “After consulting with the Official World Golf Ranking people, we approved it.”

The 18-man field is open to the Top-50 players in the world and is due to take place in the Bahamas, December 3-6. Woods is currently ranked No. 266 after an extremely difficult on-course year that has seen him most recently miss the cut at the Open Championship.

“This [Hero World Challenge] is his event, and he and his father created this thing,” Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg said. Adding, “this is somebody who was the most dominant player of his generation. No player could have any beef with that for what it means to the game of golf. I honestly thought it [applying for exemption] was the right thing to do.”

It might not be all doom and gloom for Woods. The Nike player bounced back from three early bogeys during yesterday’s first round of the Quickens Loans National to finish with a respectable 3-under 68. Leaving him just 5-strokes behind joint leaders Ryo Ishikawa and Retief Goosen going into today’s second round.