Tiger Woods To Play In 2024 U.S. Open At Pinehurst After Accepting Exemption

For the first time since 1994, Tiger Woods is not qualified to compete in the U.S. Open – which is being held in June at Pinehurst in North Carolina – based on his play on the golf course. 

Normally, that would mean that he would have to enter and win a qualifying tournament – as several LIV Golf players are attempting, although not Talor Gooch, who apparently thinks he's above that. But, I digress. 

The USGA offered Woods a special exemption to enter the tournament without having to qualify and Woods accepted. Woods is a three-time champion of the event, his most recent victory coming in 2008. 

A plaque commemorating Tiger Woods winning the 2008 U.S. Open.

(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

"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," Woods said. 

This was an easy decision for the USGA. If Tiger Woods is healthy enough to compete, there is no golf tournament that he shouldn't be invited to play in. That includes all the major tournaments.  

Even at his age and diminished ability, no one draws eyeballs to golf like Tiger Woods. It's not a guarantee that any player will ever again mean to golf what Tiger Woods means to the sport. 

Hell, even a Tiger Woods handshake became a social media meme during The Masters in April. 

Whether he plays well is irrelevant, it will just be great to see Woods competing at the U.S. Open again. He hasn't played in the event since 2020, when he missed the cut. Tiger's best finish in the past decade came in 2019; he tied for 21st place. 

TV networks don't care about any of that, though. They're just hoping that he makes the cut this year, so they have four rounds of Tiger Woods to broadcast. 

That's what all golf fans should be rooting for, honestly.