BREAKING: Tiger Woods officially withdraws from 2023 US Open
Tiger Woods will not be making an appearance at the US Open. Woods, who won the Open in 2000, 2002, and 2008, has a lifelong invitation to the major. In fact, since he has won all of them, also known as a Grand Slam, he can play in each of them eternally.
However, his health won't allow it. He labored at the Masters and barely made the cut before withdrawing for injury. He had surgery which kept him out of the PGA Championship and various maladies will also keep him from returning at the next major.
Tiger Woods (Back/Ankle) has officially withdrawn from the 2023 US Open. #LACC #WD
via @USGA & @BEverillGolfbet @TWlegion @NUCLRGOLF
The US Open isn't for another month roughly, but Woods knows he's not going to be able to play. He's not interested in letting anyone have hope that he can play as he continues to rest and rehabilitate his injuries.
The USGA announced the move alongside a few other changes to the upcoming major's field. Jason Day, Patrick Reed, Tyrrell Hatton Abraham Ancer, Wyndham Clark, Harris English, Tommy Fleetwood, Ryan Fox, Rickie Fowler, Russell Henley, Lucas Herbert, Si Woo Kim, Chris Kirk, Kurt Kitayama, Matt Kuchar, Adrian Meronk, Keith Mitchell, Taylor Moore, Alex Noren, Guillermo Mito Pereira, Victor Perez, Thomas Pieters, Seamus Power, and Adam Svensson were all confirmed to be in the field.
Hayden Buckley, Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Montgomery, Andrew Putnam, and Nick Taylor also received their confirmations alongside Thriston Lawrence and Jordan Smith.
Tiger Woods has played in 22 U.S. Opens from 1995-2020, and the legendary golfer has secured eight top-10 finishes in those appearances, including three victories.
Tiger Woods continues to recover from surgery
Tiger Woods underwent surgery on his ankle in April. He released a statement on Twitter detailing the surgery and what it was for:
"Earlier today, Tiger underwent a subtalar fusion procedure to address his post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture. It was performed by Dr. Martin O'Malley at HHS Sports Medicine Institute in New York City. He has determined the surgery to be successful. Tiger is currently recovering and looks forward to beginning his rehabilitation."
This has kept him out of the PGA Championship and now the US Open. It remains unclear, albeit unlikely, that he plays in the Open Championship, either. However, the surgery could mean a revitalized Woods for the future.
A surgeon commented on the surgery after it was done. He knows Tiger Woods won't get back to his prime playing ability, but he admitted that playing better was certainly in the cards:
"Can he play golf well again? Depends on your definition of well. He'll never be the Tiger of 2000 or even 2015. The fact that this is his right foot/ankle is the saving grace, as you need motion in your left foot/ankle as you roll over it near impact."
Given that Tiger Woods hardly plays anything that isn't a major tournament anymore, he could look a lot better the next time people see him, whether it's at the Open Championship later this year or at Augusta National in 2024.