Tiger Woods, the “Golf Emperor” who will participate in the U.S. Open in the men’s golf major tournament for the first time in four years, expressed confidence.
“I still have the strength to win the championship. I only have the strength to pull it off,” Woods said at a press conference held at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina on Wednesday (Korea time). 메이저놀이터
Until now, Woods has grabbed 15 wins in major competitions. At the U.S. Open, he lifted the trophy three times, including in 2000, 2002 and 2008. However, he failed to qualify for the U.S. Open due to his lackluster performance in recent months due to his injury.
He will participate in the event as a special invitation from the U.S. Golf Association (USGA), the organizer. It is the 23rd U.S. Open in four years since 2020.
Woods has had difficulty in playing the 72nd hole after seriously injuring his leg in a car accident in 2021. One of the competitions is that he played 72 holes in a healthy body. “I have always focused on physical training, and this time, it will be very important,” Woods said.
It is the first time in 19 years that Woods will compete at the U.S. Open in Pinehurst in 2005. At the time, Woods was the runner-up. “This course will test the mental aspect. We have to overcome it through various simulations here,” Woods said.
Woods will play Will Zalatoris and Matthew Fitzpatrick in the first round on the 10th hole at 8:29 p.m. on the 13th.
John Lam, ranked eighth in the men’s golf world and a member of LIV Golf, withdrew from the tournament due to injury.
“I’m worried about my left foot injury,” Rahm told a news conference. Rahm also withdrew from the Houston LIV Golf Championship last week due to foot virus infection.
“I don’t know why, but I’m infected between my left little toe and the next toe,” Rahm said. “It’s getting better little by little, but it still hurts.”
Eventually, Ram gave up his participation a few hours after the press conference. Ram is the winner of the 2021 U.S. Open. He moved to LIV Golf this year and has yet to win the title since then.
Lam’s withdrawal gave the waiting player Jackson Servais a berth.