Tiger Woods escapes rule change which would’ve cut Open career short
Tiger Woods can continue playing at The Open Championship into his late 50s, but this year’s champion won’t be so lucky.
The golfing icon has survived a rule change by the R&A (The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) keeping him active at the iconic tournament for the next 12 years.
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A three-time winner, Woods will be welcome to compete at the Open for many years to comeCredit: GettyLike every other former champion, three-time winner Woods is exempt from qualifying for the major up until his 60th birthday.
But from 2024 onwards, that landmark has been dropped to 55, the R&A have confirmed.
Woods will compete this year in Scotland as a massive outsider due to numerous injuries hampering his game and ability to perform at the highest level.
Yet like many other champions, he will still enjoy iconic moments on the Swilcan Bridge at St Andrews for years to come, warming the hearts of golf-lovers who are over the moon to see him still in action.
read more golf newsThe story is similar at the Masters which grants a lifetime exemption to former champions, while the US Open has the tightest rules of the four majors, with just ten-year exemptions.
Woods has spent time out of the game due to high-profile personal issues and numerous injury struggles, but things got even more serious in 2021 when he sustained multiple leg injuries in a car accident.
He miraculously returned to action at the Masters in April 2022, but has only managed to complete two out of the seven majors he has played since, either due to missing the cut or withdrawing from the other five.
Woods puts himself through a great deal of pain to turn up at the majors and many have questioned whether he should call it day.
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Woods is still the biggest name in golfCredit: GettySpeaking after the US Open in June, the 48-year-old dropped a rare hint back about hanging up his clubs.
When asked whether this year’s could be his last, Woods said: “As far as my last Open Championship or US Open, I don’t know what that is. It may or may not be.
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“It’s one of those things where in order to win a golf tournament, you have to make the cut.
“I can’t win the tournament from where I’m at, so it certainly is frustrating.”
He added: “I’ve only got one more tournament this season. I don’t think even if I win the British Open, I don’t think I’ll be in the PGA Tour play-offs.
“Just one more event and then I’ll come back whenever I come back.”
For now, attention will turn towards front runners Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau.
The final name in that list, DeChambeau, will also have an eye on the R&A changes and how they impact him and other LIV Golf competitors.
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2011 winner McIlroy heads to the Open as second favourite in the betting oddsCredit: Getty – ContributorMany of those who joined the Saudi breakaway league have struggled for major invites, but those who also compete in the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia or the Sunshine Tour will be able to qualify through the International Federation Ranking list.
That won’t be an issue for DeChambeau, though, who enters this year’s event as a two-time US Open winner, having downed McIlroy by a single stroke at Pinehurst in June.
