Tiger Woods revealed that he is also declining his position in the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club a day after it was revealed that he rejected a high nine-figure offer from LIV Golf. Woods, who competed in the PGA Championship and Masters, will concentrate on The Open Championship in St. Andrews. Woods tweeted, “I already notified the USGA that I won’t be playing in the U.S. Open because my body needs more time to strengthen for major championship golf. “I do hope and intend to be prepared to compete at The Open and the JP McManus Pro-Am in Ireland the following month. I can’t wait to go back there soon.”
In contrast to Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, and Jordan Spieth, who failed to make the cut at either the Masters or the PGA Championship, Tiger withdrew from the tournament last month’s PGA at Southern Hills after plainly struggling with leg pain during the competition. These are Woods’ only two career outings following his terrible car accident in February 2021. However, Woods’ leg soreness at Augusta National in April appeared to be more directional. It seemed to get worse gradually over time. The discomfort and issues were more unpredictable at Southern Hills. It was manageable one day, then terrible the next.
Woods seems surprised by this, which may be the reason he won’t be playing in the U.S. Open. Before the 150th Open Championship at the Old Course at St. Andrews, which Tiger will play, in the middle of July, he doesn’t need any shocks. As soon as he finished competing at Augusta in April, Woods made a commitment to The Open. Tiger has frequently referred to the Old Course as his favorite golf course in the world. He won at it in 2000 and 2005. Woods won’t be under 50 when the Open returns to the Old Course because there aren’t any further Opens planned there through 2025. He undoubtedly sees this as a chance he can’t pass up.
Will Tiger be able to play majors at the age of 50, when his body has recovered from so many injuries? That appears to be a risky venture, which is why he’s making every effort, including avoiding potentially four rounds of punishing U.S. Open golf at Brookline, to arrive in St. Andrews at the end of July. Woods has three wins, seven top-five finishes, and five missed cuts in 22 US Opens. But after making the cut in 2013, he has only participated in one weekend of the U.S. Open, and he hasn’t finished in the top 10 since a T4 at Pebble Beach in 2010, the year Graeme McDowell won his sole major title. U.S. Opens have seen five of Woods’ 13 major cut-misses.