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The US Open 2024 Live Blog

Pinehurst No. 2 is hallowed ground for golf fans and has long been one of the most famous golf courses in the world. The course designed by Donald Ross (opened in 1907) looks back on more than 110 years of history and has already hosted the Ryder Cup, the PGA Championship, the US Open and the US Womens Open. The course’s greens are particularly famous. Unlike at many courses, it does not mean that a ball that lands on the green will stay there. This is because most of the putting surfaces are domed, which means that many shots that do not land exactly in the targeted area roll back down.

Last year, Wyndham Clark secured victory in the “Open American”. This earned him 600 FedEx Cup points as well as prize money of 3.6 million US dollars. In addition to the best golfers in the world and some amateurs, players who have secured a place in the field via the numerous qualifying tournaments also compete against each other at the US Open.

The field – strong competition

A number of LIV players have also qualified for the tournament in various ways and will be traveling to North Carolina: Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, among others, will be competing. Martin Kaymer will also be competing for the Major title this week, which he already secured in 2014 on the same course.

It is the first time in almost 30 years that Tiger Woods has not automatically qualified for a major tournament. Thanks to his countless successes, Woods has not missed a single major qualification since the 1996 PGA Championship, in which he took part as an amateur. In 2024, he will have to rely on a special permit for the first time.

While he enjoys a lifetime entry into the US Masters and the PGA Championship and is allowed to play in the British Open until the age of 60, his eligibility to play in the US Open expired this year. He last received a five-year exemption for the US Open following his victory at the 2019 US Masters, but this expired at the beginning of the year.

Tiger Woods plays the US Open 2024 thanks to special permit

Tiger Woods celebrated his last major success in 2019. His victory at the 2019 US Masters was considered the greatest comeback in golf history – since then, Woods has been plagued by various injuries that have repeatedly made it impossible for him to play golf. He has since competed in several major tournaments again. He has announced about one start per month for this season. This includes participation in the US Open 2024.

However, Tiger Woods needed special permission to do so: “The U.S. Open, our national championship, is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped define my career. I’m honored to receive this exemption and could not be more excited for the opportunity to compete in this year’s U.S. Open, especially at Pinehurst, a venue that means so much to the game.”

Will Tiger Woods make history once again?

Woods last won the tournament in 2008 and this year, from June 13-16, it will be decided whether the 15-time major champion will triumph once again. “The story of the U.S. Open could not be written without Tiger Woods,” USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer said in a statement. “From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is in the field, and his accomplishments in the game undoubtedly made this an easy decision for our special exemption committee.”