Tiger’s needs more time to click, pulls out of US Open
Tiger Wood said on Tuesday he has decided to withdraw from next week’s US Open outside Boston, citing a need for more time to get his body ready for major championship golf.
Woods returned to competition at the Masters in April, 14 months after nearly losing his right leg in a car crash, then played in last month’s PGA Championship where he withdrew in pain after posting a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.
‘I previously informed the USGA that I will not be competing in the US Open as my body needs more time to get stronger for major championship golf,’ Woods wrote on Twitter. ‘I do hope and plan to be ready to play in Ireland at the JP Pro Am (in Ireland) and at The Open next month. I’m excited to get back out there soon!’
The news isn’t a surprise, given Woods’s struggles since he returned from his long hiatus at this year’s Masters.
The 15-time Major Winner was visibly affected by pain in his right leg at last month’s event at Southern Hills in Oklahoma, where he shot a career-worst 79 after barely making the cut. Woods still plans on playing at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews next month.
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‘I am looking forward to St Andrews,’ he said in April. ‘That is something that is near and dear to my heart.
‘I’ve won two Opens there, it’s the home of golf, it’s my favorite golf course in the world. I will be there for that one.’
This year’s Masters was Woods’s first official tournament since November 15, 2020, which was the final round of that year’s pandemic-delayed Masters.
He had his fifth back surgery two months later and was still recovering from that on February 23, 2021 when he crashed his SUV over a median on a suburban coastal road in Los Angeles and down the side of a hill.