Tiger Woods Will Not Play 2023 U.S. Open; 25 New Players Added to Field Including Four LIV Golfers

The USGA announced Woods's withdrawal as part of a field update on Monday following the PGA Championship, when 25 new players earned exemptions to the season's third major.

In a move that was expected, Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the U.S. Open. The three-time champion underwent ankle surgery following the Masters and is expected to need several months to recover.

The United States Golf Association announced the withdrawal as part of an update on the field which saw several players earn spots in the June 15-18 tournament via the Official World Golf Ranking on Monday. The USGA takes the top 60 in the world not otherwise exempt, and will have another top 60 cutoff on June 11.

Exemptions were announced for 25 players via the OWGR, including past major champions Jason Day and Patrick Reed. Tyrrell Hatton, at No. 18 in the world and No. 11 in the new SI World Golf Rankings, was the highest ranked player not already exempt.

The other players who earned full exemptions through the current Official World Golf Ranking are: Abraham Ancer, Wyndham Clark, Harris English, Tommy Fleetwood, Ryan Fox, Rickie Fowler, Russell Henley, Lucas Herbert, Si Woo Kim, Chris Kirk, Kurt Kitayama, Matt Kuchar, Adrian Meronk, Keith Mitchell, Taylor Moore, Alex Noren, Guillermo Mito Pereira, Victor Perez, Thomas Pieters, Seamus Power and Adam Svensson.

Eight other players earned exemptions based on their performances in three additional categories. The top five players in the current PGA Tour FedExCup standings, who were not otherwise exempt, are: Hayden Buckley, Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Montgomery, Andrew Putnam and Nick Taylor. The top two players from the 2022 DP World Tour Final Points List, who were not otherwise exempt, are Thirston Lawrence and Jordan Smith. Min Woo Lee is the highest ranked player on the current Race to Dubai Rankings who is not otherwise exempt.

Of the 25 additions, four golfers—Reed, Ancer, Pieters and Pereira—play on the LIV Golf tour. On Monday, fellow LIV player Sergio Garcia punched his U.S. Open ticket through sectional qualifying.

Woods, who won the U.S. Open in 2000, 2002 and 2008, has played in 22 U.S. Opens, from 1995-2020, and has eight top-10 finishes. He played in three major championships last year but skipped the U.S. Open at The Country Club.

Last month, Woods made the cut for the 23rd straight time at the Masters, but withdrew prior to the completion of the weather-delayed third round.