Accepting a special exemption to compete in the US Open, Tiger Woods
CNN) — After agreeing to a special exemption to compete in the 124th major on Thursday, Tiger Woods will tee off at the US Open for the 23rd time.
The 48-year-old will compete for his fourth US Open title after the United States Golf Association (USGA), the major’s tournament organizer, awarded him a spot. The 48-year-old did not meet the requirements to automatically make the 156-player field scheduled to compete at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in North Carolina on June 16.
“The US Open, our national championship, is a genuinely unique event for our game, and it has helped shape my career,” Woods told the USGA.
“I’m honored to have received this exemption and couldn’t be more excited to compete in this year’s US Open, particularly at Pinehurst, a site that represents so much to the game.”
Woods has had a successful career at the tournament. The 15-time major champion won his first US Open in historically overwhelming form in 2000, finishing 15 strokes ahead of his nearest competitor at Pebble Beach, before adding two more victories in 2002 and 2008, the latter of which he won despite a leg fracture and ruptured ligaments.
However, Woods did not compete in last year’s tournament in Los Angeles because he was still recovering from ankle surgery, a story that has been all too common in recent years given the long-term medical consequences of his 2021 car accident.
Woods’ sporadic playing appearances have seen his world ranking collapse to world No. 789, well below the top-60 position required for a ticket to Pinehurst, but his reputation at the major means his invitation for a third appearance at the facility was a “easy decision” for organizers.
“The US Open story could not have been written without Tiger Woods,” USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer stated in a statement.
“Tiger always makes the championship better, from his thrilling 15-stroke triumph at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspirational win at Torrey Pines in 2008 while suffering a broken leg. His achievements in the game definitely made this an easy decision for our special exception committee.”
‘My goal is to ruin the logo’
Woods will be trying to improve on his historic performance at The Masters last month, when he made the cut at Augusta National for the 24th time in a row.
A difficult weekend saw him finish 60th, 27 strokes behind champion Scottie Scheffler, but Woods is confident that he can close the gap on Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships.
On Wednesday’s Today Show, Woods discussed his new clothing brand “Sun Day Red,” saying it was his aim to “ruin” his line’s logo, which features 15 stripes – one for each major – in the shape of a Tiger.
“My aim is to trash the logo, and I want to continue damaging it,” Woods told Carson Daly.
“If this is the trademark, it’s my responsibility to damage it.” Woods’ 15-year-old son Charlie was one of 10,052 people who sought to qualify for this year’s US Open, but he fell short after shooting nine-over 81 at a local qualifying tournament in Florida.
The top five finishers have proceeded to the second and final qualifying stage, known as ‘Golf’s Longest Day,’ which will take place in May and June in 36-hole competitions in ten US and three overseas locales.
Those that progress will join the field at Pinehurst aiming to stop reigning champion Wyndham Clark, who finished a single stroke ahead of Rory McIlroy last year to clinch his first major title.
