Tiger Woods has accepted a special exemption for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, marking the first time the three-time champion will need an exemption to play.
Woods has been exempt from every U.S. Open since he first played in 1995 as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion.
The five-year exemption period for winning the 2019 Masters expired last year.
This waiver is expected and is likely to be the first of many.
The USGA is particular about who is exempt from qualifying, and the last player to be exempt in 2021 was Phil Mickelson.
Jack Nicklaus won four U.S. Opens out of 18 professional majors and earned eight special exemptions, including five in a row before he stopped playing at the U.S. Open after the 2000 Pebble Beach tournament. .
Arnold Palmer was granted an exemption to the U.S. Open five times, the last being in 1994 when he returned to his hometown of Oakmont for a tearful farewell.
Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by 15 strokes, a record margin of victory for a major champion.
He won another title at New York’s Bethpage Black in 2002 and famously won his third U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008, just one week before undergoing reconstructive surgery on his left knee. is.
“The U.S. Open is a truly special tournament for our sport and the defining tournament of my career,” Woods said in a statement. “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. .”
The U.S. Open will be held at 2 Pinehurst from June 13th to 16th, marking the fourth time the Open has been held.
Woods tied for third in 1999, two strokes behind the late Payne Stewart. He was second to Michael Campbell at Pinehurst in 2005. He missed his most recent exhibition game at Pinehurst in 2014 while recovering from his first of four hip surgeries.
Woods has a long history with the USGA and is the only player to win three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateurs, followed by three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles. His nine USGA championships are matched only by amateur great Bobby Jones.
Woods was named the recipient of the USGA’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, earlier this year.
“The story of the U.S. Open would not be written without Tiger Woods,” said USGA Chief Championship Officer John Bodenhamer.
“From his two-stroke win at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his emotional victory with a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is on the field. His accomplishments in the game definitely made this championship an easy decision for our Special Exemptions Committee. ”
Woods will be playing in the U.S. Open for the first time since Winged Foot in September, which was held without fans due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
He crashed his car in Los Angeles in February 2021, sustaining severe injuries to his right foot and ankle and missed his U.S. Open return match at Torrey Pines. He returned to competition a year later, but the only major he didn’t play was the 2022 U.S. Open in Brookline.
A year ago, Woods underwent fusion surgery on his right ankle after the Masters, sat out the rest of the season and missed his U.S. Open debut at Los Angeles Country Club.
Woods last competed in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where he shot a third-round 66 but then shot a 75 to finish tied for fourth.
He is scheduled to compete in the U.S. PGA Championship to be held at Valhalla in two weeks, the tournament he won in 2000 with the aim of winning four consecutive majors.
Woods said he plans to play in the remaining three majors during an appearance on NBC’s show earlier this week to promote his clothing brand.
