Tiger Woods has accepted a special invitation to play the 124th edition of the US Open, as announced this Thursday by the United States Golf Association (USGA).
Thus, Woods will make his 23rd appearance in the tournament, the third at Pinehurst No.2, this year’s venue, and the first since 2020 at the Winged Foot Golf Club. It is the first time in Woods’ career that he does not qualify for the US Open on his own merits. Woods’ five-year exemption for winning the Augusta Masters in 2019 expired in 2023.
Woods, 48, has won the US Opens of 2000, 2002 and 2008, in addition to twelve other Majors and 82 tournaments on the PGA TOUR. Only in championships dependent on the USGA, Tiger adds up nine titles, a figure only matched by Bobby Jones. It includes three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateurs (1991-1993), three consecutive U.S. Amateurs (1994-1996) and a general match play record in the USGA of 42-3.
“The US Open is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped define my career,” said Woods. “I am honoured to receive this invitation and could not be more excited about the opportunity to compete in this year’s US Open, especially at Pinehurst, a place that means so much to golf.”
Woods, one of the five winners of the Grand Slam of golf, has 15 victories in majors, the second most of all time after Jack Nicklaus (18), and includes three victories in the Open, four in the PGA and five in the Masters. His most recent conquest was at Augusta National in 2019 to end an eleven-year drought.
“The history of the US Open could not be written without Tiger Woods,” said the USGA’s Championship Director, John Bodenhamer. “From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring triumph with an injured knee at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is on the field, and his achievements in the game certainly made this an easy decision for our special invitations committee.”
As an amateur, Woods was a member of the U.S. Walker Cup team in 1995 and the United States team in the amateur world in 1994. A seven-time member of the United States team in the Ryder Cup, he served as assistant captain in the 2016 edition, and has competed in nine Presidents Cup, including as player captain in 2019.
The US Open will be held from June 13 to 16 on course number 2 of Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, in the village of Pinehurst, North Carolina.
