Tiger Woods has admitted his US Open profession could possibly be coming to an finish after a disappointing missed lower at Pinehurst No 2.
The three-time US Open champion wanted a particular exemption from the USGA so as to play on this yr’s contest, the primary time in his skilled profession he has didn’t qualify for a serious on his personal advantage, and he subsequently struggled to rounds of 74 and 73 in North Carolina.
Woods ended the week on seven over and going through a second successive main missed lower, having additionally made an early exit on the PGA Championship final month after ending final of those that made it via to the weekend at The Masters.
The 15-time main champion holds a lifetime exemption to The Masters and the PGA Championship and may play at The Open till he’s 60, though he at the moment doesn’t qualify mechanically for the US Open.
When requested whether or not this yr’s US Open could possibly be his final, Woods instructed reporters: “I don’t know what that is. It may or may not be.”
Woods combined one birdie and three bogeys throughout his second spherical, seeing him end two strokes outdoors the projected lower mark, with the previous world No 1 disillusioned together with his newest efficiency.
“It’s one of those things where in order to win a golf tournament, you have to make the cut,” Woods stated post-round. “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.”
What went improper for Tiger?
Woods scrambled a par on the first and holed from 12 toes to keep away from dropping a shot on the par-four subsequent, then noticed a 15-foot birdie on the fourth undone when he missed from eight toes to avoid wasting par on the fifth.
The 48-year-old had a run of pars after that nevertheless it ended when he took two makes an attempt to barter a steep financial institution on the ninth and made bogey, seeing him attain the flip in 36, earlier than settling for a par on the par-five tenth following a monster strategy that ran off the again of the inexperienced.
His putt from the perimeter on the twelfth drifted some 10 toes previous the outlet and resulted in one other bogey, taking him to 6 over, earlier than he seemed on in disbelief as birdie-putt possibilities on three consecutive holes narrowly missed the goal.
Woods’ hopes suffered an extra setback when a bogey on the par-four sixteenth left him requiring a birdie-birdie end, with a sensational sand save on the seventeenth and shutting par not sufficient for him to make it via to the weekend.
“It was probably the highest score I could have possibly shot today,” Woods stated. “I hit a lot of good shots that just didn’t quite go my way, or I hit good putts, and then I put myself in a couple of bad spots with some bad lag putts.”
Woods was making his first US Open look since 2020
Evaluation: The tip for Tiger on the US Open?
4-time main champion Dame Laura Davies: “Everything we’ve seen over the last 18 months…when he’s tried to play, he’s not contending. He’s not an also ran to us, but in his own mind he’s not getting in contention and he thinks that’s where he should be. And why wouldn’t he?
“All of the wins, all of the success he is had, and I hope it is not the final one. You say issues after you’re disillusioned that you simply possibly do not imply, however when Tiger says one thing, individuals are inclined to hear.”
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Woods shot a disappointing four-over-par 74 within the first spherical of the US Open
Former PGA champion Wealthy Beem: “I’d hate to believe that [is Woods’ last US Open], just because we still believe he’s got just a little bit left in the tank. Coming through these injuries I know it just takes a toll on him, but I hope that it’s not true.”
Sky Sports activities’ Nick Dougherty: “He came to the event with the ambition to try and compete and he was far from it. He’d have hated every minute of the last two days.
Woods performed alongside Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick through the first two rounds at Pinehurst No 2
“As someone who did play in the era when if you beat Tiger, you generally won, I don’t get any joy from watching everybody beat him now. As much as I want to watch him play, I only want to watch him play if he can compete. He was so good to watch in his prime, he’s hard to let go of.”
Woods preparing for The Open
Woods stated at first of the yr he meant to finish a full main schedule this season, one thing he has not accomplished since 2019, and he now turns his consideration to The Open at Royal Troon subsequent month.
Any appearances on the PGA Tour have already been dominated out by Woods, though finishing all 4 majors in a calendar yr with out damage would signify a step in the suitable path.
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Watch collection of the very best ever pictures from Woods’ prolonged profession at The Open
“I’ve only got one more tournament this season,” Woods confirmed. “Even if I win The Open, I don’t think I’ll be in the [FedExCup] Playoffs. Just one more event and then I’ll come back whenever I come back.”
Woods was absent from final yr’s contest at Hoylake and missed the lower in his earlier two appearances, at Royal Portrush in 2019 and St Andrews in 2022, with the three-time champion trying to make the lower at The Open for the primary time since his tied-sixth end at Carnoustie in 2018.
Watch Tiger Woods in motion all through the main season reside on Sky Sports activities, together with The 152nd Open at Royal Troon from July 18-21. Stream the majors and extra with NOW.
