The USGA announced on Thursday that it had offered a special exemption to Tiger Woods to compete in this year’s U.S. Open. And, of course, the three-time champion accepted.
The 124th edition of the U.S. Open will take place June 13-16 on Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
As one of the field criteria, the USGA reserves the right to offer special exemptions but does so with discretion. Here’s a look at who has received them over the years and how they fared, per the USGA. Most notably, Hale Irwin won in 1990 at Medinah, defeating Mike Donald in a playoff, after getting an invite.
1966 (Olympic Club)
1977 (Southern Hills)
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Sam Snead, MC
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Tommy Bolt, MC
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Julius Boros, MC
1978 (Cherry Hills)
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Arnold Palmer, MC
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Bill Casper, T-30
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Seve Ballesteros, T-16
1980 (Baltusrol)
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Arnold Palmer, 63rd
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Gene Littler, T-38
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Jay Sigel (a), MC
1981 (Merion)
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Arnold Palmer, MC
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Gary Player, T-26
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Lou Graham, MC
1983 (Oakmont)
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Arnold Palmer, T-60
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Gary Player, T-20
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Lee Trevino, WD
1984 (Winged Foot)
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Isao Aoki, T-16
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Lee Trevino, T-9
1986 (Shinnecock)
1988 (The Country Club)
1990 (Medinah)
1991 (Hazeltine)
1993 (Baltusrol)
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Jack Nicklaus, T-72
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Tom Watson, T-5
1994 (Oakmont)
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Arnold Palmer, MC
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Johnny Miller, MC
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Larry Nelson, MC
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Ben Crenshaw, T-33
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Seve Ballesteros, T-18
1995 (Shinnecock)
1996 (Oakland Hills)
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Jack Nicklaus, T-27
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Tom Watson, T-13
1997 (Congressional)
1998 (Olympic Club)
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Jack Nicklaus, T-43
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Scott Simpson, 58th
1999 (Pinehurst)
2000 (Pebble Beach)
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Aaron Baddeley (a), MC
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Michael Campbell, T-12
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Jack Nicklaus, MC
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Greg Norman, MC
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Curtis Strange, MC
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Tom Watson, T-27
2002 (Bethpage)
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Hale Irwin, MC
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Nick Faldo, T-5
2003 (Olympia Fields)
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Hale Irwin, WD
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Tom Kite, MC
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Tom Watson, T-28
2004 (Shinnecock Hills)
2005 (Pinehurst)
2010 (Pebble Beach)
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Tom Watson, T-29
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Vijay Singh, T-40
2016 (Oakmont)
2018 (Shinnecock Hills)
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Ernie Els, MC
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Jim Furyk, T-48
2019 (Pebble Beach)
2021 (Torrey Pines)
2024 (Pinehurst)
(a = amateur)
Source Agencies
