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May 3rd, 2024
Tiger Woods accepts special exemption to US Open
Tiger Woods will tee it up at Pinehurst
For the very first time in exactly 30 years, Tiger Woods is not qualified to compete in the U.S. Open based on his play on the golf course as his five-year exemption (Masters 2019 win) expired earlier this year.
Normally, this would mean that he would have to enter and win a qualifying tournament, as several of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf players have to do... But these are not typical times and The USGA has extended a special exemption to enter and Woods has accepted.
"I'm honoured to receive this exemption and could not be more excited for the opportunity to compete in this year’s U.S. Open" Woods said.
Tiger has won the event on three occasions, most recently at Torrey Pines in 2008 where he defeated Rocco Mediate on the first hole of sudden-death, following the 18-hole playoff.
Nobody attracts eyeballs to golf like Tiger Woods. He is the face of golf. How he plays will be largely irrelevant. He hasn't contested a US Open since 2020, where he didn't make the cut at Winged Foot. Go back further and his best finish of the last decade was T21 in 2019's staging at Pebble Beach.
The 48-year-old has only played in two tournaments this year, and finished 60th at The Masters last month (though he did set a new record for consecutive cuts made), as he continues to struggle with an injury-wracked body from a lifetime of swashbuckling greatness.
The broadcast networks won't give a putt about any of that though... Instead they will just hoping that he makes the cut, so they have four days of Tiger Woods to broadcast.
John Bodenhamer, USGA Chief Championships Officer, commented: "The story of the U.S. Open could not be written without Tiger Woods,"
“From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is in the field.
“From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is in the field.
“His accomplishments in the game undoubtedly made this an easy decision for our special exemption committee.”
The 2024 US Open will be contested at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club,North Carolina, from June 13-16.
