Tiger Woods names recipient of special exemption into $20m PGA Tour event

Tiger Woods has announced Sahith Theegala will receive this year's special exemption into the PGA Tour event he hosts in Los Angeles.

Woods, 50, has served as the tournament host of The Genesis Invitational since 2017. 

The event, now with signature status, will be held from February 19–22 at Riviera Country Club.

The Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption, awarded annually since 2009, honours a deserving golfer from a minority background. 

Sifford, a trailblazer in the sport, was the first black golfer to earn a PGA Tour card. 

Despite facing systemic racism and limited access to courses and tournaments, he won two PGA Tour titles, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014, a year before his death.

"During Charlie's playing days, all he wanted was an opportunity to compete with the best players in the world so he could showcase his game, and Sahith shares those same characteristics," Woods said. 

"I am proud to welcome Sahith to the field for The Genesis Invitational, a tournament that holds special meaning for us both."

Theegala called the invitation an "honour." 

"The Genesis Invitational has played an important role in my journey to the PGA Tour, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to compete in Charlie's memory," he said.

Introduced to golf by his father, Theegala learned the game primarily on public courses. 

He became an accomplished junior golfer and one of the nation's top amateurs while at Pepperdine University.

Theegala made his PGA Tour debut as a Pepperdine sophomore at Riviera in 2017, earning an exemption through his Collegiate Showcase victory. 

He made the cut and finished T49 in his first PGA Tour start as an amateur. 

His first professional start came three years later at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut - the same tournament where Sifford claimed his first PGA Tour victory.

Theegala earned his first PGA Tour title at the 2023 Fortinet Championship. 

He struggled with injuries last season and has dropped to 92nd in the Official World Golf Ranking from a career-high 11th.

The Genesis Invitational will feature 41 of the top 50 players. 

Woods will not compete as he continues to recover from a recent back procedure and has not announced a timeline for his return.

Max Homa, Tom Kim and Adam Scott have also accepted sponsor invites.