3 weeks ago
1 of 5 | Tiger Woods is group to make his 23rd commencement astatine nan U.S. Open. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo
May 3 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods said he felt "honored" to person a required typical exemption to play successful nan 2024 U.S. Open. Woods, who did not qualify, will play connected a typical exemption introduction for nan first clip successful his storied play career.
The United States Golf Association announced Thursday that Woods accepted nan invitation to nan 3rd awesome of nan season. Woods' qualified for nan past 5 U.S. Open tournaments because of his triumph astatine nan 2019 Masters Tournament, but that qualifying invitation expired this year.
"The U.S. Open, our nationalist championship, is simply a genuinely typical arena for our crippled and 1 that has helped specify my career," Woods said successful a statement.
"I'm honored to person this exemption and could not beryllium much excited for nan opportunity to compete successful this year's U.S. Open, particularly astatine Pinehurst, a venue that intends truthful overmuch to nan game."
Woods, 48, won U.S. Open titles successful 2000, 2002 and 2008. His 2019 Masters crown was nan most-recent of his 15 awesome crowns.
He made nan first of his erstwhile 22 U.S. Open starts successful 1995.
"The communicative of nan U.S. Open could not beryllium written without Tiger Woods," USGA main championships serviceman John Bodenhamer said.
"From his 15-stroke triumph astatine Pebble Beach successful 2000 to his inspiring triumph connected a surgery limb astatine Torrey Pines successful 2008, this title is simply amended erstwhile Tiger is successful nan field, and his accomplishments successful nan crippled undoubtedly made this an easy determination for our typical exemption committee."
The 2024 U.S. Open will beryllium held from June 13 to 16 astatine Pinehurst Resort & Country Club's Course No. 2 successful Pinehurst, N.C.
Woods continues to beryllium hobbled by backmost and limb injuries. He carded a four-round people of 16-over par and vanished 60th astatine past month's Masters. He played conscionable 2 charismatic events past season, tying for 45th astatine nan Genesis Invitational and withdrawing from nan 2023 Masters.
Woods earned his past triumph astatine nan 2019 Zozo Championship. Prize money totals for nan 2024 U.S. Open will beryllium announced nan week of nan tournament. Last year's winner, Wyndham Clark, took location $3.6 million. A full of 156 players compete annually for nan U.S. Open Trophy.
