If Tiger Woods is healthy enough, he could play in next month's U.S. Open.
The USGA announced Thursday that Woods, a three-time U.S. Open champion, has accepted a special exemption to the 124th U.S. Open, to be held at No. 2 Pinehurst from June 13 to 16.
The 48-year-old Woods last won the U.S. Open in 2008, and with the exemption from his 2019 Masters win gone, the USGA is poised to offer him the first special exemption since Phil Mickelson in 2021. .
“The U.S. Open is a truly special event for our sport and a tournament that helped define my career,” Woods said. “We are honored to receive this exemption and couldn't be more excited to have the opportunity to compete in this year's U.S. Open, especially at Pinehurst, which means so much to the sport. .”
Woods, who holds nine USGA titles, is on the verge of making his 23rd career U.S. National Championship appearance and the first since the 2020 Winged Foot tournament, where he missed out. The last time Woods finished in the top 10 at the U.S. Open was in 2010 at Pebble Beach, where he tied for fourth.
In his most recent major debut, Woods finished alone in 60th place at last month's Masters Tournament. He started just two games on the PGA Tour this year, missing out on the second round of the Genesis Invitational with the flu — and with a body that recently underwent subtalar fusion surgery in April 2023. The battle continues.
“The story of the U.S. Open would not be written without Tiger Woods,” said USGA Chief Championship Officer John Bodenhamer. “From his 15-stroke win at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his emotional victory with a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply easier when Tiger is on the field. A good one and his accomplishments in the game definitely made this championship an easy decision for our Special Exemptions Committee. ”
