Tiger Woods Faces Uphill Battle at US Open After Missing Key Preparation Event
Tiger Woods Faces Uphill Battle at US Open After Missing Key Preparation Event
Tiger Woods’ prospects at the upcoming US Open appear grim as he heads into the tournament without any competitive preparation. Fans had high hopes that Woods would play at The Memorial Tournament this week, but those hopes were dashed when the field was announced without his name.
The Memorial Tournament, hosted by golf legend Jack Nicklaus at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, is one of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour. The tournament’s official social media account sparked speculation last week by posting the eyes emoji without context. Many fans took this as a cryptic hint that Woods would be participating. However, this proved not to be the case, and Woods was notably absent when the field was confirmed on Monday.
Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and reigning champion Viktor Hovland will all compete, but Woods’ absence is a significant blow to his fans who were eager to see him in action.
Woods has had a tough time since his reconstructive ankle surgery following the 2023 Masters, which was necessary to address injuries from his 2021 car accident. Since then, he has played in only three PGA Tour-sanctioned events. His first appearance of the year at February’s Genesis Invitational ended prematurely when he withdrew during the second round due to flu symptoms.
In April, Woods participated in The Masters, where he made the cut but finished 60th at 16-over-par. This performance was far from his previous dominant displays at Augusta National, where he has won the green jacket five times. He then took a month off before the PGA Championship in May, where he admitted he was not in top form due to his limited schedule. Woods missed the cut after shooting seven-over-par in the first two rounds at Valhalla.
“My body’s okay,” Woods said before his opening round in Kentucky. “It is what it is. I wish my game was a little bit sharper. Again, I don’t have a lot of competitive reps, so I am having to rely on my practice sessions and getting stuff done either at home or here on-site.”
Woods has received a special exemption to play in next week’s US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. However, his performance at Valhalla has led to a consensus that he needs more competitive play to be ready for a major championship. Missing the Memorial Tournament, which features a strong field of top PGA Tour players, means Woods loses a crucial opportunity to fine-tune his game under tournament conditions.
The decision suggests that Woods does not believe his body can handle two tournaments in such close succession. Consequently, his chances of making a significant impact at Pinehurst seem slim. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the golf legend fares, but expectations are tempered given his current form and lack of recent competitive play.
