Tiger Woods has given a clearer indication of what his 2024 calendar may look like following his return to golf.
Tiger Woods wants to play in all the Majors next year but has admitted he will have to rely on a favour from the US Open organisers to complete the set. Woods, who turns 48 in a fortnight, has pencilled in a schedule for 2024 which will see him play one tournament a month after returning to the golf course following ankle surgery.
The list includes the Masters, US PGA and Open Championship but for the first time since 1996 he is not automatically qualified for all the Majors with his US Open pass having expired.
He is currently ranked 901, so it is unlikely that he will be able to break into the world’s top 60 by late spring. If he does, he will have to rely on a special exemption from the USGA, which has previously been granted to other golf greats like Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.
He admits that he doesn’t know whether or how that might occur. Woods said, “As of right now, I’m not in. I don’t know what’s happened with Jack over his career, or Tom, or anybody else.” “I’m not sure what the process is; I might have to go qualify, or they might invite me, or I might have to ask them in person.”
Woods can play in The Open until he is 60 years old and has lifetime passes to the Masters and US PGA, but this year his five-year US Open exemption—which came from his victory at Augusta in 2019—ran out.
Although the USGA does not extend special invitations annually—Phil Mickelson received one in 2021—there will be a lot of pressure on them to grant Woods entry to Pinehurst in June so that the three-time champion can play once more. Even now, his presence at a tournament still has an impact.
His most recent appearance, a fifth-place result in the father-and-son knockabout PNC Championship this past weekend, came two weeks after he made a successful physical comeback to finish 18th out of 20 in the Hero World Challenge.
Since I haven’t made a meaningful shot in a while, it has been good to shake off a lot of the rust and doubt that I’ve had, according to Woods.
It’s been good to hit shots with consequences and post a score. Since the ankle has fused, it was fine. Even though my other parts were hurting, it was encouraging that I could start training right away and hit balls.
“Practice and preparation will help me know that I can still succeed. I’m still able to strike the tee. I’m still able to chip. I’m still proficient at putts. True, the hardest part of it is having to put everything together for 72 holes.
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