Tiger Woods admits he doesn’t know how to qualify for the 2024 US Open – with next summer’s tournament at Pinehurst the first he doesn’t automatically make the field for in 27 YEARS
- Tiger Woods' ranking has been torpedoed and the golf icon hardly plays
- But he could still find a way to the US Open next year
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Tiger Woods has admitted he is unsure how he will qualify for next year's US Open, with the 15-time major winner not exempt from the tournament for the first time in almost three decades.
Woods has played just one tournament (Hero World Challenge) since undergoing ankle surgery in April, plus the PNC Championship with his son Charlie, and has not appeared at Winged Foot since missing the cut in 2020.
His 2019 Masters victory qualified him for the next five US Opens, but that period is now over and Woods has fallen to 901st in the world rankings.
So with less than seven months until the tournament in Pinehurst, Woods' path to participation is not yet clear.
“I don't know,” he said during the PNC Championship. “I don't know what happened or what Jack (Nicklaus), what happened during his career, or Tom (Watson) or anyone else.
Woods has fallen to 901st in the world rankings, having hardly played this year
Tiger Woods and son Charlie Woods will be seen at the PNC Championship this weekend
“But right now I'm not participating, and whether I have to formally ask them or not, or whether they invite me, or whether you give me an exemption, or whether I have to qualify, you know, who knows.
The last time Woods was not automatically qualified for a major championship was the 1996 PGA Championship, when he was an amateur.
He will likely need a special exemption to gain entry to the 2024 US Open, for which there is historical precedent.
Nicklaus was given eight special exemptions for the tournament, while Arnold Palmer was given five Sports illustrated noted.
Phil Mickelson also got one in 2021.
Woods, pictured with winner Scottie Scheffler, finished 18th at the Hero World Challenge
Woods finished 18th out of 20 players at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas from November 30 to December 3.
He told Golf Channel after the event that he wants to host 12 tournaments in 2024 and said it seemed like a “reasonable” plan.
“I think the best scenario is maybe one tournament a month,” he said last Tuesday. 'I think that's realistic. You should maybe start with the Genesis (in February), then something in March, maybe The Players. But we have a setup now where the biggest events are one a month, so it's set up for that.
'Now I have to prepare myself for that. I think this week is a big step in that direction.”