A WD from the Genesis Invitational. A missed cut at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. Tiger Woods, unfortunately, hasn’t had the best of forms in 2024. But not to worry, as the legend of the game has now come face to face with a favorable move regardless of his recent poor form on the men’s circuit, courtesy of the PGA Tour Policy Board.

A meeting was already scheduled to take place on Tuesday, as per reports from Golf.com’s Sean Zak, when the PAC was to discuss the 48-year-old’s lifetime exemption into signature events. The writer himself came forward to confirm the decision taken by the Policy Board in favor of Woods as he shared a tweet on X, “During today’s meeting, PGA Tour Policy Board APPROVED a new Lifetime Achievement exemption category for Tiger Woods to access Signature Events. “

That’s not all there is to it. The PAC also brought in new changes to the elevated events on the circuit, including the approval of a 72-player minimum field for the same. Moreover, the tournament is to also keep an alternate list to maintain the same number of athletes in the field in the event of a golfer pulling out or WD.

The alternate list would be based on the current FedEx Cup rankings for those athletes who are not already eligible for the elevated event. There was widespread discontentment among the players when the field for the signature events went below 70, especially at the Arnold Palmer Invitational where Scottie Scheffler emerged victorious. The tournament at the Bay Hill Golf Course, as a result, saw the likes of Nick Dunlap being forced to start the contest without any pairings.

The lifetime exemption, meanwhile, will reportedly kick in place from 2025 for the Hall of Famer. The move was sanctioned by the board specifically for Woods, owing to him being a “player who has reached an exceptional lifetime achievement.” Throughout his 28-year-long professional career, the golfer has raked in a whopping 82 wins on the PGA Tour, not to mention the 15 major titles he boasts. But all of this would be for naught if the rumors surrounding his retirement became a reality.

The golfer, after the second round of the recently concluded U.S. Open, divulged his plans for the rest of the season. “I’ve only got one more tournament this season,” said Woods while alluding to the upcoming Open Championship. The 48-year-old also mentioned how he wouldn’t play at the FedEx Cup playoffs even if he raked in his 16th major title at Royal Troon; “I don’t think even if I win the British Open I don’t think I’ll be in the Playoffs.”

But the surprise came when he vaguely replied to a question regarding the recent major being his last one. He said, “As far as my last Open Championship or U.S. Open Championship, It may or may not be,” while shying away from confirming the same. But that was enough to spark questions about his retirement from the sport.

Tiger Woods can be regarded as the face of the PGA Tour, and rightfully so! Winning 15 majors and having a total of 82 wins on the PGA Tour has made Tiger Woods one of the modern living legends among golf fans. The 48-year-old is still active on the greens, even after a near-fatal accident, but he has not made the cut in the latest majors this season. In fact, ever since his car crash, he has only teed off at 8 official Tour events. Is the legendary golf star losing his popularity?

Joe Pompliano, the host of the Joe Pomp Show, shared a graph prediction on his X handle. It showed Bryson Dechambeu’s YouTube popularity, which appears to be quite exponential, while the PGA Tour’s subscribers’ hike seems extremely mediocre. He further wrote in the post, “Bryson DeChambeau is probably the world’s most popular golfer right now, outside of Tiger Woods. Much of that is due to his YouTube channel, which is currently on pace to surpass the PGA Tour’s 1.6 million subscriber count within the next 6–8 months. Pretty crazy!”

This year, Bryson DeChambeau has been nothing less than magnificent at majors. At the Masters, he finished beautifully at T6, and then at Valhalla, he shot 20 under to finish just 1 stroke behind the winner, Xander Schauffele. At the 124th US Open, he went into the final round with a stunning 7 under.

Tiger Woods’s last win was recorded in 2019, when he won the Zozo Championship. In the same year, he also won his last major and his fifth Masters, which could be regarded as the comeback of the decade. With that win, he came out of a decade-long drought, as it was back in 2008 when he last won a major, the US Open. However, his career has been in grave decline after his leg injuries and subsequent surgeries since 2008. In that decade, Woods only won about a handful of tournaments, which looks meager compared to his previous win frequency.

The New Zealand Herald stated, “The statistics paint a stark picture. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for someone who has tasted the sweet nectar of victory so many times before. As much as every golf enthusiast yearns for one last triumphant roar from Woods, it’s painfully clear that his golf game nowadays is more of a gentle murmur.” This year too, Woods finished dead-last in the Augusta showdown, and unfortunately failed to make the cut in the PGA Championship and US Open.

Despite the heartbreaking and frustrating finishes, the GOAT is still willing to persevere, but his popularity is ebbing away slowly. But how has Bryson DeChambeau managed to become more popular amongst the masses?

How is Bryson DeChambeau fairing above Woods popularity-wise?

The means and trajectory have changed with time and better connectivity through the internet. Hence, although Tiger Woods has created an almost unsurpassable record for the golfers who come after him, the present circumstances have seen others rise in the fame bar without having as many titles under their belt. Moreover, the measurement of popularity has also taken different turns. Bryson DeChambeu has won only one major and only 12 professional wins since he turned pro in 2016. Yet his presence on the greens has been something that one cannot overlook, and he is lovingly regarded as a “man of the people” too on the internet. His rise in popularity can be seen, as earlier pointed out, on YouTube. While the golfer was playing on the PGA Tour, rules did not permit him to have a YouTube channel, but LIV Golf has no such rules.

Although the 2020 US Open winner is yet to catch Tiger Woods’s massive $3.5 million followers on Instagram, the golfer is on the rise. As he is becoming the new face of golf among young enthusiasts, Tiger Woods’s poor performance at present is further pushing him back. NBC News has already declared, “Perhaps golf needs a new Tiger in its tank.”

Tiger Woods ignited hopes among fans during the 2024 Masters Tournament with his impeccable resilience through all four days. Shortly after, however, the 2024 PGA Championship rid the golf world of the ray of hope that they were holding onto, as the golfing great failed to meet the cut in the second major of the year. Preparations alongside other key talents and his son earlier this week suggested that the 15-time major winner has his intentions and eyes set straight on the prize.

However, his ever-evolving health status has cast a shadow of doubt among fans regarding his plans for success at the U.S. Open. Interestingly, however, Woods’s plans after the conclusion of Round 1 of the event seem to have reinstilled hopes among fans.

Moving away from his ongoing, deteriorating state post-rounds, GOAT seems to have decided to take a leap and practice a couple of swings before heading back and resting it out for the second round. This surprising update has left fans believing that Woods’s health is on an upward slope, with only goodness coming his way in the days to come.

When asked what he thinks he could do between Round 1 and Round 2 to make some adjustments, the 82-time PGA Tour winner said, “Well, I’m hoping I don’t get too tight in the car ride back, that maybe I can hit a few. I can get tight in air-conditioning. Get back there, there’s usually no point. I’d like to hit a few putts. My speed was not quite there. I think I 3-putted, what, two or three times today. If I clean that up, if I get a couple iron shots not as loose as I did, I’m right there at even par…I thought I did the one thing I needed to do today, which is drive the ball well. I did that, I just didn’t capitalize on any of it.”

Woods’s detailed plan and promising health status have led fans to believe that there might just be a bright day for this GOAT at the end of this tunnel of health struggles. There seemed to be a consensus among golf lovers at the “greatness” of this “very rare” moment in the trajectory of the present-day Woods. So how did the fans react?

Fans react to Tiger Woods’s very rare post-round display of health

An awestruck fan wrote, “He’s definitely getting better physically,” taking note of his increased persistence and capabilities on the greens. Another user was quick to point out the update as a “Good sign,” thus declaring the positives that may come with an upward curve of the golfer’s recovering health in his game in the coming days. After battling the wrath of his physical condition post-accident for years, it seems Mr. Woods is finally regaining his lost endurance. He started the 124th US Open with a score of 4 over. Woods’s capabilities of walking all four days was under question at the Masters but he defied those odds, and showed his resilience. He is giving a peak of it again at Pinehurst.

One of the netizens nostalgically wrote, “WOAH people might think this is an overreaction but the fact that he’s okay with swinging more after the round is a really good sign.” For someone who is regarded as the GOAT, all thanks to his 15 major titles, and 82 Tour wins, an update of practicing after a round should not be a big deal. But for loyal TW fans, it is. After all, it gives them a glimmer of hope that their favorite golfer is not ready to hang his clubs. After an unfortunate 2023 season, and not-so-great 2024 so far, this seems to be a huge thing. So far, Woods has had 1 WD, his worst major finish, and 1 missed cut in his past 3 professional appearances on the greens.

Even after, Woods demonstrated endurance post the opening round and gave fans a sigh of relief, they remained aware of his performance’s rough ends. Some of the fans even suggested Mr. T  work on his irons and continue evolving into a healthier and stronger version of himself. Therefore, a fan wrote, “Great news! Gotta work on those irons.”  More so, yet another fan, upon listening to Mr. Woods’s detailed plan to make full use of the time in between rounds, remarked, “He knows he needs to work.” After failing to make the cut at the PGA Championship, one could say that he knows his weak spots.

Therefore, the general air around the news of Tiger Woods’s increased endurance post-rounds saw a layer of happiness spread across the golf world. It remains to be seen whether this newfound positive update will translate into a fruitful end to the U.S. Open, or not.

Tiger Woods is in a unique dilemma. To play more or not to—that’s the question the 15-time major champion hasn’t found an answer to. Not yet. The 48-year-old wished to play once a month this year. But that has effectively been only one major month. The risk, Woods explains, is that without enough competitive golf, his performances at the major are falling below his own expectations. But the former world no. 1 also has to consider how his body will react to more pressure.

Tiger Woods opened with a 4-over at Pinehurst No. 2. Speaking to the media after the round, the three-time U.S. Open champion elaborated, “I’m physically getting better as the year has gone on. I just haven’t been able to play as much because I just don’t want to hurt myself pre, then I won’t be able to play in the major championships.”

Woods earlier admitted his body doesn’t move the way he wants it to. Meaning, now that his ankle is fused, it forces him to take a different posture while swinging—mostly off the tee—and pushes the pain down to his back. At the Genesis Invitational, his first tournament after the surgery, Woods’s back ‘locked up’ resulting in a shank in the first round.

Moreover, a few months ago, when asked where it hurt the most, Woods joked, ‘Everywhere’. At the Masters, the former world no.1 said, “I hurt every day … I ache every day. As far as my physicality on certain shots, every shot that’s not on a tee box is a challenge.” While Woods feels he is in a better spot than he was at the Genesis, it hasn’t reached a point where the veteran can comfortably sandwich another tournament between two majors.

The recovery time after a tournament compels the 82-time PGA Tour winner to take more time off than he would have preferred. Woods added, “It’s pick your poison, right? Play a lot with the potential of not playing, or not playing and fight being not as sharp.” Woods’s comments temper the optimism he showed before the tournament. The veteran affirmed that he is in a physical condition to not just compete but win.

Tiger Woods refused to back down, despite physical setbacks

Woods is playing at the 124th U.S. Open on a special exemption. His eligibility that came with the 2019 Masters triumph ran out last year. And, at Pinehurst, the 48-year-old reiterated what he said during the Masters.

That he can still do it—add one more to his major tally, which is three short of Jack Nicklaus. The 82-time PGA Tour winner said, “I feel like I have the strength to be able to do it. It’s just a matter of doing it.”

The 48-year-old missed the cut at the PGA Championship and finished 60th at the Masters, the last among those to make the cut. In his last U.S. Open appearance, Woods missed the cut, shooting 10-over 150. It remains to be seen if the 48-year-old can change that at Pinehurst No. 2.

Woods’s opening round included six bogeys. Of course, getting a square instead of a circle doesn’t hurt too much at Pinehurst No. 2. But it’s taking a bogey when he could’ve saved par that will cost in the long run.

The greens at Pinehurst No. 2 are extremely difficult. Some claimed that although the course seems longer visually it is witnessed to be shorter once someone hits a ball. Given such conditions does the USGA allow its field members to use distance-measuring equipment such as rangefinders?

The USGA has a very meticulous and long list of rules and clarifications. From making sure that repairs are done in certain ways to letting the players know that many of them can share one bag, USGA has pinpointed every possibility and encompassed it in its rulebook. According to their Use of equipment rule, there are limitations to using ‘green-reading’ materials. “Rule 4.3 limits the use of equipment and devices that might help a player in their play, based on the principle that golf is a challenging game in which success should depend on the judgement, skills and abilities of the player,” said USGA.

According to USA Today, USGA has allowed laser rangefinder usage since 2006 but only for casual play and tournaments. It was later banned by local rules. They also reported, “At elite professional levels of play, the devices still have not been embraced for competition rounds, though they have been allowed in the U.S. Amateur since 2014. They are still not allowed during competition rounds at PGA Tour events or at the U.S. Open and British Opens.”

USGA limits a putting green map image to only a ‘scale of 3/8 inch to 5 yards or smaller’. Additionally, as per its size limits, the image or map can be ‘4 1/4 inches x 7 inches’. Interestingly, the permission to use a rangefinder can be easily ruled out as USGA restricts the use of any magnifying equipment. It states, “No magnification of putting green information is allowed other than a player’s normal wearing of prescription glasses or lenses.”

Furthermore, the USGA does not allow any handwritten or hand-drawn information regarding the putting greens unless it meets the size limits and is written by either the player or the caddie.  There are also limitations to the alignment devices. The rulebook states, “If a player places an “alignment device” (see definition in Equipment Rules) to show the line of play and then positions their ball based on the direction of that alignment device, the player is in breach of Rule 4.3a.”

The PGA of America has enabled the use of distance-measuring devices in three of its major championships since 2021. Along with the PGA Championship, it also lets the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship use such advantages.

The then president of the PGA of America, Jim Richerson had previously stated, “The use of distance-measuring devices is already common within the game and is now a part of the Rules of Golf. Players and caddies have long used them during practice rounds to gather relevant yardages.”

PGA of America is a standalone association that allows using such equipment. Using devices that provide insights on elevation change is a prohibited practice but using a rangefinder is not. For the devices that already have the feature inbuilt, the golfers keep it turned off.

The greens of Pinehurst No. 2 have been declared to be one of the best of Donald Ross and the toughest too. With so many speculations springing up to scrutinize its difficulty, the 15-time major winner, Tiger Woods, is relating to the golf community how difficult it truly is with his pacing in the first round of the 124th edition of the US Open. His approach to the first few holes and the time frame he has taken to complete them are shocking.

The X handle of Flushing It has just dropped a post about how it took Woods an absolute 44 minutes to complete his 2nd hole since the time he teed off for the first round. With that, they also explored the potential of a larger concern at Pinehurst altogether. They stated, “Tiger Woods teed off 44 minutes ago and his group has just completed only their 2nd hole of the day. Slow play could be a big issue at Pinehurst.”

With an elevated level of difficulty on the greens of Pinehurst, many are suspecting a low-scoring major. With its turtleback and more links-style setup, Pinehurst possesses a lot more difficulty for smooth play. The slow pacing of the game from early on is only a sign of how distinguishingly strenuous the journey is going to be moving forward.

On the very first hole, two closely mown mounds were witnessed just below the ledge. The tricky trajectory of the shot certainly calls for ample time for better judgment on the golfer’s part. And Tiger Woods, along with his team, has understood what to prioritize at the US Open this year, even if time is at stake for scoring a shot.

Bob Harig pointed out the shocking news of how Woods scored 1-under par in the first two holes, but it took 42 minutes. In the discussion of the post, he again informed Woods that he had been waiting at the 15th tee for a while. While another fan observed that he had waited well over 5 minutes for the second shot of the 10th hole along with two other golfers. The slow play controversy came into being at the 2023 Masters at the hands of Patrick Cantlay.

When the golf community was hit with the news, they were extremely shocked at the performance so far on the greens of Pinehurst No. 2 Golf Course.

The golf community is stunned by Tiger Woods’s pace

One of the fans wrote, “Brutal pacing. It’s a US Open and I was prepared for it but damn it’s slow. Imagine if it was windy.” He expressed his expectations that the US Open would prepare him for a difficult result; however, the pacing thus portrayed so early on in the tournament is still unthinkable and way slower. He also questioned how much worse could have been the outcome if it had been windy after all at Pinehurst.

Another fan wrote, “Think the pace could benefit Tiger’s leg?” Tiger Woods has been going through insufferable leg issues for more than a decade now. Right before the Masters, many questioned how his ankle’s zero mobility was a matter of concern. Shockingly, he walked all four days at Augusta. At the PGA Championship too, he did not limp the two days he played. The fan speculated that a slow pace might give the golfer an upper hand and conclude with a different result than was seen during the Masters (finished last), and the PGA Championship (missed cut).

Yet another fan was shocked and commented, “42 to play 2 holes?!” It is almost unbelievable for the golf community to believe that it took so long for someone as experienced as Woods to play two holes. Having won 15 major titles, and 82 Tour events, Woods has had his share of playing on difficult courses.

Someone else wrote, “Tougher the course, slower the play. Golf is faster when making Birdies and not always fighting off Bogeys or worse!!” They recognized that the difficulty level golfers have been met with at Pinehurst has already produced several triples and doubles in just a short time. Making birdies is indeed faster on the course, and eagles too!

One other fan wrote, “Gezzus. That’s embarrassing. Maybe it’s time for a shotgun start.” They were extremely disappointed with the play and the pace, so much so that they suggested a different approach that should have been undertaken. The shotgun start lets all the golfers tee up at the same time but from different holes just like in LIV Golf.

The 2024 US Open is here, and the goat is competing in it! Tiger Woods was given a special exemption by the USGA, which allowed him to compete in the 124th edition of the third major. Golf enthusiasts got glimpses of the dynamic duo of Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie Woods, as they prepared together at Pinehurst No. 2 before the tournament officially started. Woods Jr. is instrumental in his father’s practice, but he is not carrying his bag this major. It’s Lance Bennett who is caddying for the 15x major champion.

Lance Bennett first assumed the role of Woods’s caddie at the 2024 Genesis Invitational. Recently, a video of them scouting the greens was shared by NUCLR Golf on their X handle. It showed Bennet was taking notes on Woods’s shots at Pinehurst No. 2. “We’ve had the same type of feeling in how we look at the golf course and how we read putts; they’re very similar. I think it’s great—we’re going to be a great team and really looking forward to the challenge,” Woods said of Bennett.

Bennett works full-time for Belgian golfer Adrien Dumont de Chassart. He is well known for his partnerships with notable golfers like Matt Kuchar, as he caddied for him during Kuchar’s win at the 2012 PLAYERS Championship. Bennett brings a wealth of experience to the table. Moreover, he has also worked with Sungjae Im and 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge winner Davis Riley. The looper has also spent time on the LPGA Tour with Juli Inkster, Paula Creamer, and Lorena Ochoa.

Tiger Woods and his son Charlie practicing together emphasizes the deep connection they share. They have been working on various aspects of the game, from bump-and-run shots to intricate putting drills. “I just want to see the balls rolling. Charlie reminds me every now and again, which is great. We have a great relationship and rapport like that, and it’s a wonderful experience for both of us,” Woods shared, highlighting the special bond they have built through golf.

At the PNC Championship in December 2023, the 48-year-old brought his daughter, Samantha Woods, to be his caddie. So why was the 15-year-old not given a chance to caddie for Woods?

Despite Charlie’s impressive credentials, including a +3 handicap and victories on the junior circuit, caddying for his father at a challenging course like Pinehurst is less than ideal. Tiger Woods’s return to major competition after a month will require the expertise and experience that Woods Jr. cannot provide at such a young age, particularly in reading greens and strategizing on tough courses.

While Charlie isn’t carrying the bag, he is playing another crucial role as an unofficial coach for his father. Woods emphasized this during the Masters saying, “I trust him with my swing and my game. He’s seen it more than anybody else in the world. He’s seen me hit more golf balls than anyone.”

Woods praised that his son’s involvement is not just sentimental; he brings fresh insights and reminders that help him focus. “He gave me a couple little side bits today, which was great, because I get so entrenched in hitting certain putts to certain pins, I tend to forget some of the things I’m working on,” said Woods at the pre-tournament presser at Pinehurst No. 2.

As Tiger Woods eyes the 16th major, he is supported by a team that includes both seasoned professionals and his talented son. Will he defy the odds and become a 16x major champion? It remains to be seen!