Tiger Woods is in danger of losing his US Open exemption in 2019, CBS Sports is reporting. That is the only major event in which the current No. 286 golfer in the world is in danger of losing automatic invitation status.
Given that he just produced his best round in two years, Woods may not have to worry about it.
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Woods last won the US Open in 2008 - ironically, that is his last win at a major, but past-champion automatic-invite status at the U.S. Open is the shortest at the national event among the majors.
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CBS Sports lists the time exceptions attached to winning each golf major.
Masters: Lifetime
US Open: 10 years
British Open: Until age 60
PGA Championship: Lifetime
Woods last won the Masters in 2005, the British Open in 2006 and the PGA Championship in 2007. The Masters and PGA Championship carry lifetime exemptions for past winners. He can compete every year at the British Open until he's 60.
"The one that lingers a bit is the US Open," CBS Sports reports. "As the (286th)-ranked golfer in the world, Woods wouldn't currently qualify any other way than as a former champ. But that exemption runs dry in 2019. Woods could get a special exemption (and probably would for Pebble in 2019), but for how long?
"It's going to be something else to watch Woods grinding at a local or sectional qualifier in 2020 or 2021. The USGA is the most cutthroat of all the governing bodies in terms of qualification. It's also the only one Woods will have to fret over in the near future."
Tiger shot a 6-under 64 in the first round of the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., on Thursday, his lowest round since carding a 61 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August, 2013.
Woods has had individual rounds of success during his 11 tournaments in 2015, but his best finish only is a 17th-place effort at the Masters. He missed the cut at the other three major events.
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