Tiger Woods has admitted his US Open profession could possibly be coming to an finish after a disappointing missed reduce 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 significant on his personal benefit, 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 reduce, 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 might play at The Open till he’s 60, though he at the moment doesn’t qualify routinely for the US Open.
When requested whether or not this yr’s US Open could possibly be his final, Woods informed reporters: “I do not know what that’s. It might or might not be.”
Woods combined one birdie and three bogeys throughout his second spherical, seeing him end two strokes exterior the projected reduce mark, with the previous world No 1 dissatisfied along with his newest efficiency.
“It is a type of issues the place so as to win a golf match, you must make the reduce,” Woods mentioned post-round. “I am unable to win the match from the place I am at, so it actually is irritating. I believed I performed effectively sufficient to be up there in rivalry. It simply did not work out.”
What went flawed 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 however 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 method that ran off the again of the inexperienced.
His putt from the perimeter on the twelfth drifted some 10 toes previous the opening and resulted in one other bogey, taking him to 6 over, earlier than he regarded on in disbelief as birdie-putt probabilities on three consecutive holes narrowly missed the goal.
Woods’ hopes suffered an additional 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 in all probability the very best rating I might have probably shot at present,” Woods mentioned. “I hit a variety of good pictures that simply did not fairly go my method, or I hit good putts, after which I put myself in a few unhealthy spots with some unhealthy 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: “All the things we have seen over the past 18 months…when he is tried to play, he is not contending. He isn’t an additionally ran to us, however in his personal thoughts he is not getting in rivalry and he thinks that is the place he needs to be. And why would not he?
“All of the wins, all of the success he is had, and I hope it isn’t the final one. You say issues after you’re dissatisfied that you simply possibly do not imply, however when Tiger says one thing, folks 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 would hate to consider that [is Woods’ last US Open], simply because we nonetheless consider he is bought just a bit bit left within the tank. Coming via these accidents I do know it simply takes a toll on him, however I hope that it isn’t true.”
Sky Sports activities’ Nick Dougherty: “He got here to the occasion with the ambition to try to compete and he was removed from it. He’d have hated each minute of the final two days.
Woods performed alongside Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick throughout the first two rounds at Pinehurst No 2
“As somebody who did play within the period when when you beat Tiger, you usually gained, I do not get any pleasure from watching all people beat him now. As a lot as I need to watch him play, I solely need to watch him play if he can compete. He was so good to observe in his prime, he is exhausting to let go of.”
Woods preparing for The Open
Woods mentioned in the beginning of the yr he meant to finish a full main schedule this season, one thing he has not performed 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 characterize a step in the best route.
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Watch number of the perfect ever pictures from Woods’ prolonged profession at The Open
“I’ve solely bought yet one more match this season,” Woods confirmed. “Even when I win The Open, I do not suppose I will be within the [FedExCup] Playoffs. Only one extra occasion after which I will come again at any time when I come again.”
Woods was absent from final yr’s contest at Hoylake and missed the reduce in his earlier two appearances, at Royal Portrush in 2019 and St Andrews in 2022, with the three-time champion seeking to make the reduce 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 dwell on Sky Sports activities, together with The 152nd Open at Royal Troon from July 18-21. Stream the majors and more with NOW.