Ali Stafford
Senior Sports Journalist
Tiger Woods missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 73 at the US Open. Woods needed a special exemption from the USGA to appear. The former world No 1 has now missed back-to-back major cuts but has confirmed he will play in The Open at Royal Troon, live on Sky Sports Golf next month
Last Updated: 06/15/24 12:50 AM
Tiger Woods admitted his US Open career may be coming to an end after a disappointing missed cut at Pinehurst No 2.
The three-time US Open champion needed a special exemption from the USGA to play in this year’s competition, the first time in his professional career that he failed to qualify for a major on his own merit, and then shot rounds of 74 and 73 in the North Caroline.
Woods finished the week at seven over and facing a second straight major missed cut, also having an early exit from the PGA Championship last month after finishing last of those who made it through the weekend at The Masters.
The 15-time major champion has a lifetime exemption from The Masters and the PGA Championship and can play in The Open until he is 60, although he is not currently automatically qualified for the US Open.
When asked if this year’s US Open could be his last, Woods told reporters: “I don’t know what it is. It may or may not be.”
![Woods was uncertain about his future at the US Open after missing a cut in North Carolina](https://e2.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6582037.jpg?20240614230029)
![Woods was uncertain about his future at the US Open after missing a cut in North Carolina](https://e2.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6582037.jpg?20240614230029)
![Woods was uncertain about his future at the US Open after missing a cut in North Carolina](https://e2.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6582037.jpg?20240614230029)
Woods was uncertain about his future at the US Open after missing a cut in North Carolina
Woods combined a birdie and three bogeys during his second round to see him finish two strokes short of the intended cut, with the former world No 1 disappointed with his latest performance.
“It’s one of those things where to win a golf tournament, you have to make the cut,” Woods said after the round. “I can’t win the tournament from where I’m at, so it’s definitely disappointing. I thought I played well enough to be there in contention. It just didn’t work out.”
What went wrong for Tiger?
Woods opened for par at the first and holed from 12 feet to avoid missing a shot at the par, then saw a 15-foot birdie putt at the fourth undone when he missed from eight feet to save par at the fifth.
The 48-year-old was buoyant after that, but it ended when he took two tries to negotiate a steep bank at the ninth and bogeyed, seeing him reach the turn in 36 before settling for par at a draw. five 10th after a monster approach that ran off the back of the green.
![](https://e2.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6581899.jpg?20240614201952)
![](https://e2.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6581899.jpg?20240614201952)
![](https://e2.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6581899.jpg?20240614201952)
His putt from the fringe at the 12th went about 10 feet from the hole and led to another bogey, which took him to six over, before he looked on in disbelief as birdie opportunities on three consecutive holes narrowly missed the target.
Woods’ hopes suffered a further setback when a bogey at the par-four 16th left him requiring a birdie-birdie finish, with an impressive sand at the 17th and closing par not enough to reach the weekend.
“That was probably the highest score I could have shot today,” Woods said. “I hit a lot of good shots that just didn’t go my way, or I hit good shots, and then I put myself in a couple of bad spots with some bad fake lags.”
![Woods was making his first US Open appearance since 2020](https://e0.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6582036.jpg?20240614230004)
![Woods was making his first US Open appearance since 2020](https://e0.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6582036.jpg?20240614230004)
![Woods was making his first US Open appearance since 2020](https://e0.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6582036.jpg?20240614230004)
Woods was making his first US Open appearance since 2020
Analysis: The end for Tiger at the US Open?
Four Grand Champion Dame Laura Davies: “Everything we’ve seen in the last 18 months…when he tries to play, he doesn’t fight. He’s also not a running back with us, but in his mind he doesn’t get into contention and he thinks that’s where he should be. And why not?
“All the wins, all the success he’s had, and I hope it’s not the last. You say things after you’re down that maybe you don’t mean, but when Tiger says something, people tend to listen.”
Former PGA Champion Rich Beem: “I would not like to believe this [is Woods’ last US Open], precisely because we still think he’s got some left in the tank. Going through these injuries, I know it’s just affecting him, but I hope it’s not true.”
Sky Sports’ Nick Dougherty: “He came to the event with the ambition to try to compete and he was far from that. He would hate every minute of the last two days.
![Woods played alongside Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick in the first two rounds at Pinehurst No 2](https://e0.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6580903.jpg?20240613184932)
![Woods played alongside Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick in the first two rounds at Pinehurst No 2](https://e0.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6580903.jpg?20240613184932)
![Woods played alongside Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick in the first two rounds at Pinehurst No 2](https://e0.365dm.com/24/06/768x432/skysports-tiger-woods-golf_6580903.jpg?20240613184932)
Woods played alongside Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick in the first two rounds at Pinehurst No 2
“As someone who played back in the day when if you beat Tiger, you generally won, I’m not happy to see everybody bashing him now. As much as I want to see him play, I just want to see him play. If he can compete, he was so good to watch in his prime, hard to let him go.”
Woods prepares for The Open
Woods said at the start of the year that he intended to complete a full course this season, something he hasn’t done since 2019, and is now turning his attention to The Open at Royal Troon next month.
Any PGA Tour appearances have already been ruled out for Woods, although completing all four majors in one calendar year without injury would represent a step in the right direction.
“I only have one more tournament this season,” Woods confirmed. “Even if I win the Open, I don’t think I’ll be in the [FedExCup] Playoffs. Just one more event and then I’ll be back whenever I’m back.”
Woods was absent from last year’s competition at Hoylake and missed the cut at his two previous appearances, at Royal Portrush in 2019 and St Andrews in 2022, with the three-time champion looking to make the cut at The Open for the first time since then Tie sixth finish at Carnoustie in 2018.
Watch Tiger Woods in action throughout the major season live on Sky Sports, including The 152nd Open at Royal Troon from 18-21 July. Stream the big movies and more with NOW.