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Players who have received USGA special exemptions into the U.S. Open, and how they fared

Golf Channel
·2 min read
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Players who have received USGA special exemptions into the U.S. Open, and how they fared

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)

  • Ben Hogan, 12th

1977 (Southern Hills)

  • Sam Snead, MC

  • Tommy Bolt, MC

  • Julius Boros, MC

1978 (Cherry Hills)

  • Arnold Palmer, MC

  • Bill Casper, T-30

  • Seve Ballesteros, T-16

1980 (Baltusrol)

  • Arnold Palmer, 63rd

  • Gene Littler, T-38

  • Jay Sigel (a), MC

1981 (Merion)

  • Arnold Palmer, MC

  • Gary Player, T-26

  • Lou Graham, MC

1983 (Oakmont)

  • Arnold Palmer, T-60

  • Gary Player, T-20

  • Lee Trevino, WD

1984 (Winged Foot)

  • Isao Aoki, T-16

  • Lee Trevino, T-9

1986 (Shinnecock)

  • Scott Verplank, T-15

1988 (The Country Club)

  • David Ishii, T-36

1990 (Medinah)

  • Hale Irwin, Won

1991 (Hazeltine)

  • Jack Nicklaus, T-46

1993 (Baltusrol)

  • Jack Nicklaus, T-72

  • Tom Watson, T-5

1994 (Oakmont)

  • Arnold Palmer, MC

  • Johnny Miller, MC

  • Larry Nelson, MC

  • Ben Crenshaw, T-33

  • Seve Ballesteros, T-18

1995 (Shinnecock)

  • Jack Nicklaus, MC

1996 (Oakland Hills)

  • Jack Nicklaus, T-27

  • Tom Watson, T-13

1997 (Congressional)

  • Jack Nicklaus, T-52

1998 (Olympic Club)

  • Jack Nicklaus, T-43

  • Scott Simpson, 58th

1999 (Pinehurst)

  • Jack Nicklaus, MC

2000 (Pebble Beach)

  • Aaron Baddeley (a), MC

  • Michael Campbell, T-12

  • Jack Nicklaus, MC

  • Greg Norman, MC

  • Curtis Strange, MC

  • Tom Watson, T-27

2002 (Bethpage)

  • Hale Irwin, MC

  • Nick Faldo, T-5

2003 (Olympia Fields)

  • Hale Irwin, WD

  • Tom Kite, MC

  • Tom Watson, T-28

2004 (Shinnecock Hills)

  • Raymond Floyd, MC

2005 (Pinehurst)

  • Nick Price, T-9

2010 (Pebble Beach)

  • Tom Watson, T-29

  • Vijay Singh, T-40

2016 (Oakmont)

  • Retief Goosen, MC

2018 (Shinnecock Hills)

  • Ernie Els, MC

  • Jim Furyk, T-48

2019 (Pebble Beach)

  • Ernie Els, MC

2021 (Torrey Pines)

  • Phil Mickelson, T-62

2024 (Pinehurst)

  • Tiger Woods

(a = amateur)