3 reasons why Tiger Woods will make U.S. Open cut at Pinehurst No. 2

Tiger Woods has played in only six U.S. Opens since 2011 and made the cut just three times. He last played in the U.S. Championship four years ago, when he missed the weekend at Winged Foot during the pandemic.

Five months later, he was in a car accident in Southern California that nearly required amputation of his leg and left him with a shattered ankle, compound fractures in his foot and other traumatic injuries that left many wondering if he’d ever walk again, let alone play golf.

But in true Tiger fashion, he bounced back after the incident: 14 months later, he inexplicably qualified at Augusta National, and then again in 2024.

But he has struggled to complete 72 holes in multiple majors, forcing him to withdraw from the 2022 PGA Tour and the 2023 Masters, and missing the cut at the 2022 British Open and most recently the 2024 PGA Championship.

So why do we think Woods will make the cut in the second round at Pinehurst this time? Three reasons:

3. Weather

With temperatures in the low 90s Fahrenheit in the forecast this week, heat and humidity will be prevalent among players at Pinehurst No. 2 all week.

Woods thrives in these conditions — not only does he enjoy practicing in heat like he does at home in South Florida, but it also helps his body warm up faster.

Woods spends hours before a competition preparing his body to perform by taking ice baths, stretching and spending plenty of time on the range, and hot weather helps speed up that process.

Meanwhile, cold temperatures often cause stiffness and soreness, which is part of the reason Woods withdrew from the 2023 Masters, but he hasn’t had any such issues this week, which bodes well for him.

2. Teatime Luck

Woods has been blessed with a fantastic draw this week, headlining the early-late wave in the first two rounds. He will play alongside 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and 2022 U.S. Open runner-up Will Zalatoris in the first and second rounds.

The trio will begin the championship on Thursday at 7:29 a.m. ET on the par-5 10th tee. The 10th hole at Pinehurst No. 2 isn’t particularly difficult, but it does offer a chance right from the start. It’s the third-easiest hole in 2014, and the fairway is pretty easy to hit. Woods could get off to a good start.

Then on Friday, Woods, Zalatoris and Fitzpatrick will begin the second round at 1:14 pm ET, giving the 15-time major champion plenty of time to rest, recover and recuperate, as well as give himself time in the morning to warm up before the second round.

Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

1. The course itself

Unlike Augusta National and, to a lesser extent, Valhalla, Pinehurst No. 2 has no steep hills or dramatic undulations, making the course much easier to traverse, a situation that works to Woods’ advantage.

While he has repeatedly admitted he can hit any golf shot he wants, he is finding that his illness makes even walking on a golf course a challenge. Still, he feels ready.

“I feel like I have the ability to [win]” Woods said Tuesday.

“You just have to give it a go. This golf course is going to test every aspect of your game, especially mentally. Just the mental training it takes to play this particular golf course is going to be quite something.”

But at least it won’t be as physically taxing as Augusta.

Still, Woods didn’t play on Pinehurst’s No. 2 course in 2014 — he sat out the tournament because of a back injury — but he did finish as runner-up on the course in 2005. And he had a strong chance to win in 1999, but a closing bogey on the par-3 17th hole ended that hope, and he finished in a tie for third place.

Woods had success here, even before Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw restored it in 2010.

“The tee shot looks pretty much the same,” Woods said.

“I know it’s a more natural, open look. But there’s definitely a bit of a change from my memory of 2005 and what I saw in 2014. But it’s really not a big deal. The surroundings are very different. From Bento to Bermuda. [grass]that’s a big change.”

Despite the changes, Woods feels confident on the course, and for these reasons, we think he will earn a tee time for Saturday’s third round.

Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.