PINEHURST, N.C. — Tiger Woods won’t be around to play the weekend at this U.S. Open.
And he’s not sure if he’ll tee it up at any more U.S. Opens, either.
Woods shot a 3-over 73 Friday at Pinehurst No. 2 and finished at 7 over for 36 holes — missing the cut by two shots. It was just Woods’ 25th worldwide missed cut in nearly 28 years as a professional.
Woods accepted a special exemption from the United States Golf Association to participate in the U.S. Open this year — the exemption via his 2019 victory at the Masters ran out last year — which was no surprise, considering Woods’ long-standing relationship with the USGA and its championships.
The 82-time PGA Tour winner got off to an idyllic start Thursday birding his opening hole and sharing the (very) early lead, but he couldn’t keep up the momentum over the following 35 holes.
Woods confirmed he had “one more tournament” this season — The Open Championship at Royal Troon — and then he’ll come back “whenever” he comes back.
“I thought I played well enough to be up there in contention. It just didn’t work out,” Woods said. “As far as my last… U.S. Open championship, I don’t know what that is. (This) may or may not be.”
Ever the hearty competitor, Woods admitted his effort Friday was “frustrating.”
“It’s one of those things where in order to win a golf tournament, you have to make the cut. I can’t win the tournament from where I’m at, so it certainly is frustrating,” Woods said.
Other notables to miss the cut include Viktor Hovland, Jason Day, Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas.
Francesco Molinari was outside the cutline before dunking his tee shot on the par-3 9th — his final hole of the day — for an ace.
The cut fell at 5 over with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler making it on the number.