Tiger Woods, a 15-time main winner, has accepted a particular exemption into the 124th US Open subsequent month at Pinehurst, the US Golf Affiliation introduced on Thursday.
The 48-year-old golf legend, a three-time US Open champion, has struggled simply to stroll 72 holes after struggling extreme leg accidents in a 2021 automotive crash.
However Woods has mentioned he hopes to play as soon as a month this yr and completed sixtieth in final month’s Masters, ending 72 holes in a significant for the primary time since his comeback from the crash on the 2022 Masters.
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“The US Open, our nationwide championship, is a really particular occasion for our recreation and one which has helped outline my profession,” Woods mentioned in a press release.
“I’m honored to obtain this exemption and couldn’t be extra excited for the chance to compete on this yr’s US Open, particularly at Pinehurst, a venue meaning a lot to the sport.”
The event shall be staged on June 13-16 on the famed North Carolina format, the place US Open titles had been received by the late Payne Stewart in 1999, New Zealand’s Michael Campbell in 2005 and Germany’s Martin Kaymer in 2014.
Since 2013, Woods has completed 72 holes on the US Open solely as soon as, taking twenty first in 2019 solely two months after successful the Masters. He missed the reduce in 2015, 2018 and 2020 and didn’t play within the different years.
Woods received the 2000, 2002 and 2008 US Opens and his 82 PGA Tour triumphs matches Sam Snead for the all-time document.
Woods will make his twenty third US Open look, enjoying the event for the primary time since 2020 at Winged Foot.
“The story of the US Open couldn’t be written with out Tiger Woods,” USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer mentioned.
“From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Seaside in 2000 to his inspiring win on a damaged leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is just higher when Tiger is within the discipline and his accomplishments within the recreation undoubtedly made this a straightforward choice for our particular exemption committee.” Woods is predicted to make his subsequent main begin in two weeks at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky, on the PGA Championship.
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Woods nonetheless hopes to play one event a month for the remainder of the yr, regardless of his bodily limitations within the wake of a 2021 automotive crash.
“I’ve the subsequent three months — three majors — and hopefully that works out,” Woods mentioned in an interview on NBC’s “At present” present on Wednesday.
The 15-time main champion drew big crowds on the Masters final month, however his 16-over par whole was the best 72-hole rating of his profession and left him final among the many 60 golfers who made the reduce at Augusta Nationwide.
Even so, Woods indicated he was wanting ahead to tackling the PGA Championship at Valhalla on Could 16, with the US Open at Pinehurst in June and the British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland in July.
If Woods can handle it, it’s going to mark the primary time since 2019 he has performed in all 4 main championships.
To take action once more would require detailed consideration to his bodily restoration. “Chilly plunge day by day,” Woods mentioned of the remedy for his sore physique after the Masters.