Tiger Woods admits that he may have competed at his last US Open after missing the cut by two shots. Woods posted a second-round three-over-par 73 at Pinehurst No.2 in North Carolina, finishing seven over after his two days on the course.
The cut line at the notoriously difficult major was five over, with the top 60 players and ties advancing to the weekend. Woods, 48, birdied the par-4 fourth hole by sinking a long putt on Friday but then proceeded to bogey the next hole and carded three more bogeys without a birdie for the remainder of his second round.
The 15-time major champion has barely competed since suffering severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash and had flirted with retirement in recent years. And with his ranking so low he required a special exemption to compete in this year’s US Open.
Before the US Open Woods had spoken about playing one tournament a month for the remainder of the year but with his ageing body taking its toll on the golf legend, he conceded on Friday that next month’s British Open Championship at Royal Troon will be his last tournament of 2024. “Even if I win the British Open, I don’t think I’ll be in the (FedEx Cup) playoffs,” Woods said. “Just one more event and then I’ll come back whenever I come back.”
When asked about missing the cut on Friday, Woods admitted that it may be the last time he plays in the prestigious tournament. “Well, it’s one of those things where in order to win a golf tournament, you have to make the cut,” Woods said. “I can’t win the tournament from where I’m at, so it certainly is frustrating. I thought I played well enough to be up there in contention. It just didn’t work out.”
“As far as my last Open Championship or US Open Championship, I don’t know what that is. It may or may not be.” One of the most remarkable achievements of Woods’ career came at the 2008 US Open when he defeated Rocco Mediate in sudden death after an 18-hole Monday playoff.
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Tiger Woods left frustrated by US Open performance
Difficulties with Pinehurst’s ‘turtleback’ greens had dominated the talk pre-tournament. But that added difficulty excited Woods.
“It’s going to be a great test and a great war of attrition this week,” Woods said in his pre-event press conference. “It’s going to be a lot of fun for all of us.”
However, things didn’t go to plan with Woods missing the cut. The US sporting great described his performance at this week’s US as “frustrating”. “I’m not here for the weekend,” he said. “Granted, my ball-striking and felt like my putting was good enough to be in contention, and I’m not.”
Woods’ favourite major is the Masters, where he’s made the cut in a record 24 straight starts. But he has failed to make the cut at any other major since the 2022 PGA Championship, where he withdrew after playing three rounds due to plantar fasciitis.
with AAP