The country, unsettled by erratic oil revenues and unemployment, has begun to offer tourist visas and word has quietly gone out to select tour operators that Saudi Arabia is open for business.
Many of those who fail to earn their cards will play on the Buy.com Tour next year, some will play overseas, and others will rely on sponsor exemptions and conditional status to play selected PGA Tour events.
"When we selected this tour we had to select it a little bit of a way out.
If Woods uses selected PGA Tour events as his practice rounds for the majors, then he is at the right place.
"After I wasn't selected [to tour] I had a long chat with [England head coach] Andy Flower, a half-hour phone call.
Whoever does get selected as tour captain will be told that, if someone is playing better than them in their position, they won't be the captain of the Test side".
That's why we selected this tour," he said.
After impressing in limited-overs matches against the West Indies last October, the Lancashire seam bowler was selected to tour Australia over the winter.
Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford said in November 2012 that Froome was likely to be selected as Tour de France leader, although the the plan had not "completely been signed off".
