Woods confirmation and exemption into the tournament assumes special importance as the Hero World Challenge is a special event, open only to players in the Top-50 of the world. Woods, who is making a comeback, is unlikely to be in Top-50 of the world rankings.
Woods, the host of the event, himself sought and received the exemption into the World Challenge, which was created by Tiger Woods and his father, Earl Woods. It benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation.
The Hero World Challenge invites its defending champion, the current year's major championship winners, the top 11 players available from the world rankings and two sponsor exemptions -- provided they are in the top 50. The world ranking is then used to fill out the field. So, for the 2015 edition, Woods will get one of the two sponsors' spots.
The event will also continue to award Official World Ranking Points. Official World Golf Ranking points are only given to small-field events like the Hero World Challenge and the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, provided all of the players are ranked among the top 50.
The event began awarding world ranking points in 2009. The field for the 2015 Hero World Challenge will be finalised in September.