Tiger Woods drops retirement hint amid brutal scenes for golf legend at the US Open

Tiger Woods has conceded that he might have played his last US Open after missing the cut by two strokes. Woods, a 15-time major champion, posted a second-round three-over-par 73 at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, culminating in a seven-over score over the two days. The cut line for the notoriously challenging major was set at five over, allowing only the top 60 players and ties to advance to the weekend.

Woods, now 48, managed to birdie the par-4 fourth hole on Friday, sinking a long putt, but quickly followed that with a bogey on the next hole. He then recorded three more bogeys without another birdie for the rest of his round.

Since suffering severe leg injuries in a 2021 car accident, Woods has rarely competed and has considered retirement in recent years. His world ranking has plummeted so significantly that he needed a special exemption to enter this year’s US Open. Prior to the tournament, Woods expressed a desire to participate in one event per month for the rest of the year. However, with his body showing signs of strain, he revealed on Friday that the upcoming British Open Championship at Royal Troon would be his last event for 2024.

“Even if I win the British Open, I don’t think I’ll be in the [FedEx Cup] playoffs,” Woods said. “Just one more event and then I’ll come back whenever I come back.”

Reflecting on missing the cut on Friday, Woods acknowledged the possibility that it could be his final appearance at the prestigious US Open. “Well, it’s one of those things where in order to win a golf tournament, you have to make the cut,” Woods stated. “I can’t win the tournament from where I’m at, so it certainly is frustrating. I thought I played well enough to be up there in contention. It just didn’t work out.”

When asked if this was his last US Open or Open Championship, Woods was uncertain. “As far as my last Open Championship or US Open Championship, I don’t know what that is. It may or may not be.”

One of Woods’ most memorable achievements came at the 2008 US Open when he defeated Rocco Mediate in sudden death after an 18-hole Monday playoff.

Despite the difficulties posed by Pinehurst’s infamous ‘turtleback’ greens, which dominated pre-tournament discussions, Woods was initially enthusiastic. “It’s going to be a great test and a great war of attrition this week,” he remarked in his pre-event press conference. “It’s going to be a lot of fun for all of us.”

However, Woods’ tournament did not go as planned, and missing the cut left him frustrated. “I’m not here for the weekend,” he said. “Granted, my ball-striking and felt like my putting was good enough to be in contention, and I’m not.”

Woods’ favorite major remains the Masters, where he has made the cut in a record 24 consecutive starts. However, he has failed to make the cut at any other major since the 2022 PGA Championship, where he withdrew after three rounds due to plantar fasciitis.

In light of his struggles and injuries, the golfing legend’s future in major tournaments remains uncertain, leaving fans to ponder if they have seen the last of Woods at the US Open.