Tiger Woods not automatically in major for first time in 28 years

Not since 1996 has Tiger Woods not had automatic entry into all four major championships.

Woods has played in 77 majors in his garlanded career, and it goes without saying that his spots in most of these fields have taken care of themselves.

However, this year, the 15-time major champ will be relying on a helping hand from the governing bodies, in the scenario that he hasn’t broken back into the world’s top 60 by the time spring comes around.

That is because, for the first time since the PGA Championship 28 years ago when Woods was an amateur, he won’t be exempt for a major.

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Woods’ remarkable Masters victory in 2019 earned him a five-year exemption at the US Open. He already holds lifetime exemptions at the Masters and the PGA Championship, while he can compete at The Open until he is 60.

But, as pointed out by Sports Illustrated’s Bob Harig, the 47-year-old is now no longer exempt for the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No.2.

Woods fans certainly shouldn’t panic though.

It is a mere formality that the USGA will give Woods a special exemption into their tournament in June. Phil Mickelson was given the last special invite to the national championship back in 2021, weeks before winning the PGA Championship.

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And fitness permitting, we will now surely see the three-time champion Woods competing at his first US Open since Winged Foot in 2020 on a special invite.

He has already outlined his intention to play “once a month” in 2024, reiterating that ambitious target after completing 72 holes in his comeback from ankle surgery at last month’s Hero World Challenge.

“I think that if you asked me right now I’m a little sore, but once a month seems reasonable,” said Woods, who finished 18th in a 20-player field in the Bahamas.

“Having a couple of weeks off to recover, a week to build up, there’s no reason why I can’t get into a rhythm. It’s just a matter of getting in better shape basically. I feel like my game’s not that far off, but I need to get in better shape.”

Woods is now preparing to tee it up in one of his favourite tournaments, the PNC Championship, alongside his teenage son Charlie in Orlando this weekend.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.