Woods' 2010 schedule could impact eligibility for awards

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How many events and rounds Tiger Woods ends up playing in 2010 will affect his eligibility for several postseason awards but not any potential participation in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.

Woods, who won the FedExCup in 2007 and '09, would be eligible for the Playoffs provided he earns enough points to get into the events.

There is no minimum participation requirement to win the Jack Nicklaus Award that goes to the PGA TOUR Player of the Year or the Arnold Palmer Award for the leading money winner. Woods is a 10-time winner of the Jack Nicklaus Award and a nine-time winner of the Arnold Palmer Award.

The two awards that recognize the low scoring average do have a minimum, though. The Byron Nelson Award, given for the lowest adjusted average, has a 50-round requirement while at least 60 official rounds must be played to be eligible for the Vardon Trophy.

If he competes in fewer than 15 events (counting the Ryder Cup) this year, Woods will lose his voting membership for the 2010 season. He will, however, become a Life Member of the TOUR because he's completed 15 years of active participation and his 71 wins more than eclipse the required 20.

As a Life Member, Woods no longer has to pay dues and he will remain in a fully exempt eligibility category regardless of whether he meets any other criteria.

How much Woods competes could affect whether he wins the PGA of America's Player of the Year award for the 11th time in the last 14 years, though. It's based on a mathematical formula that awards points for tournament wins, official money standing and scoring average.