Tiger Woods Accepts Special Exemption For U.S. Open

Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods has accepted a special exemption to play in next month's U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina, the United States Golf Association announced Thursday.

Woods, a three-time U.S. Open winner, last captured the event in 2008. While he has lifetime exemptions into the Masters and PGA Championship and can play in The Open until he's 60 as a former winner of those tournaments, Woods' exemption into the U.S. Open ran out in 2023.

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It's the first time Woods hasn't qualified for a major championship since the 1996 PGA Championship, when he was still an amateur.

Woods, 48, has captured nine USGA championships -- three straight U.S. Junior Amateurs (1991-1993), three consecutive U.S. Amateurs (1994-96) and U.S. Opens in 2000, 2002 and 2008.

Last month, Woods set a Masters record with his 24th consecutive made cut, which broke the previous mark he shared with Fred Couples (1983-2007) and Gary Player (1959-1982).

Woods carded 82-77 on the weekend at Augusta National and finished last among players to make the cut at 16-over 304, his worst 72-hole total in a professional event.

The 124th U.S. Open will be played on Pinehurst's Course No. 2 on June 13-16.

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Tiger Woods Accepts Special Exemption For U.S. Open

LOOK: Here are the 10 US golf destinations with the most courses per capita

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