Tiger Woods plans to play in the 124th United States Open on a special exemption issued by the United States Golf Association. Woods has lifetime exemptions at the Masters and PGA Championship due to his multiple wins at each major. He is also exempt to play the Open Championship until the age of 60 as a past champion. The U.S. Open, however, was a different story. Their past champions are only exempt for 15 years.
How will Woods fare this year at the tournament?
Tiger Woods Grateful For The Opportunity
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Woods, a three-time winner of the event, last won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008, which means his exempt status ran out in 2023. Woods was seemingly well aware of this fact and made the following statement to show his appreciation of the USGA’s consideration:
“The U.S. Open, our national championship, is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped define my career. I’m honored to receive this exemption and could not be more excited for the opportunity to compete in this year’s U.S. Open, especially at Pinehurst, a venue that means so much to the game.”
The 124th U.S. Open will be played on Pinehurst’s Course No. 2 from June 13-16, 2024. It will be the first U.S. Open Tiger Woods has played in since 2020, when he missed the cut at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. This is the first major championship Woods has not automatically qualified for since the 1996 PGA Championship. He was still an amateur at that time.
An Obvious Choice By The USGA To Include Tiger Woods
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TV ratings are highest when Woods is playing. A fact not lost on USGA chief championships officer, John Bodenhamer, who released the following statement:
“The story of the U.S. Open could not be written without Tiger Woods. From his 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 is to golf what Michael Jordan is to basketball. He grew the popularity of the game to heights it had never seen before. Today, golf is a global game. And Woods is the single golfer most responsible for that. The whole point of LIV Golf, the new rival golf league, whose thesis statement was to get the players their fair share of the money coming in, would not have that argument to make if not for Tiger Woods.
Everyone involved with the game, from the players to the sponsors, to the media, to the tour itself has been rewarded with better payment. To illustrate this point, Wyndham Clark, winner of the 2023 U.S. Open, won $3.6 million. Steve Jones, winner of the 1996 U.S. Open, the last one Tiger Woods was not exempt to play in, won $425,000. That’s roughly an 850% increase. Many have referred to this phenomenon as the ‘Tiger effect.’
Woods Is A ‘Horse For The Course’
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This will be the third time Woods has played in a U.S. Open at Pinehurst #2. And his first two attempts were nearly victories. In 1999, he finished in a tie for third, two shots behind champion, Payne Stewart and just behind one of his greatest rivals, the 1999 runner-up, Phil Mickelson. Tiger finished two shots behind the winner again in 2005, that time alone in second place. Tiger Woods had to miss the 2014 edition due to injury.
Despite his game being diminished and plagued by an endless barrage of injuries, surgeries, personal traumas, and age in recent years, Tiger Woods is still Tiger Woods. He has shown glimpses of greatness when we’ve seen him play. He managed to make the cut for a record-setting 24th consecutive time at the Masters one month ago. So, we hang on to the slightest glimmers of hope, that Woods will write us one more unforgettable golf memory.
Could Tiger Woods Win The U.S. Open?
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The U.S. Open is the toughest test of the four majors when you consider the average scores it conjures annually. This isn’t the major anyone would argue is the one Woods is most likely to win at this stage. And yet, Pinehurst #2 is more walkable than Augusta National. In theory, North Carolina’s June temperatures should be warmer than those of April in Georgia.
It’s not much to go on but Tiger is still Tiger. And one thing is for sure, we’ll be watching.
About The Author
Colton is a Hollywood screenwriter turned sports columnist. Originally from the suburbs of Detroit, he is a Michigan State University grad who spent fifteen years in Los Angeles after receiving a Bachelor’s in Journalism from MSU. An award-winning filmmaker with multiple projects still in development, Colton is currently co-authoring a biography, “The Boy from the Bronx,” with renowned businessman, Michael Weisser.
Eric is a recent and welcome addition to Total Apex Sports. He’s a highly knowledgeable and respected voice in the sports community, both in Michigan and nationally. Eric Colton resides in New York City with his wife and two daughters.
