Woods Accepts Special Exemption into 124th U.S. Open

Three-time U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods has accepted a special exemption from the USGA into the 124th U.S. Open Championship, which will be contested June 13-16 on Pinehurst Resort & Country Club's Course No.2 in the Village of Pinehurst, NC.

Woods, 48, won the 2000, 2002 and 2008 U.S. Open Championships in addition to 12 other major championships and 82 total PGA Tour victories in his Hall of Fame career. His nine USGA titles, matched only by Bob Jones, include three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateurs (1991-1993) followed by three straight U.S. Amateurs (1994-1996) and an overall USGA match play record of 42-3.

“The U.S. Open, our national championship, is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped define my career,” said Woods. “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.”

One of golf’s five winners of the career Grand Slams, Woods’ incredible 15 major championship victories ranks second all-time behind only eight-time USGA champion Jack Nicklaus (18), and include three wins at The Open, four at the PGA Championship and five at the Masters. Most recently, he triumphed at Augusta National in 2019 to bookend an 11-year stretch between major championships. This year will mark Woods’ 23rd U.S. Open appearance, third at Pinehurst and first since 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club. Woods was the runner-up to Michael Campbell in the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst.

 

“The story of the U.S. Open could not be written without Tiger Woods,” said USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer. “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.”

 

As an amateur, Woods was a member of the 1995 USA Walker Cup Team and 1994 USA World Amateur Team. A seven-time member of the USA Ryder Cup Team, he served as assistant captain for the 2016 Matches, and he has competed in nine Presidents Cups, including as a playing captain in 2019.