Tiger Woods has been granted a special exemption to compete in the 124th U.S. Open, set to take place at Pinehurst No. 2 from June 13-16. The USGA announced the news on Thursday, with Woods, a three-time champion of the event, receiving the first special exemption since Phil Mickelson in 2021.
Woods, who is 48 years old, last won the U.S. Open in 2008 and had his exemption from his 2019 Masters win run out, setting the stage for the USGA to offer him this opportunity. Woods owns nine total USGA titles and is now in line to make his 23rd career appearance in the national championship, first since 2020 at Winged Foot where he missed the cut.
The story of the U.S. Open could not be written without Tiger Woods, said USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer. From his historic 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is in the field and his accomplishments in the game undoubtedly made this an easy decision for our special exemption committee.
Woods’ last top-10 finish at a U.S. Open came in 2010 at Pebble Beach where he tied for fourth place and most recently finished solo 60th at last month’s Masters Tournament after making just two starts on the PGA Tour this year due to health issues including subtalar fusion surgery in April of this year and flu that led him to withdraw from The Genesis Invitational during the second round .
