Tiger Woods Status Clouds 2026 Shinnecock Plans
tiger woods is not expected to play at Shinnecock this year, with USGA CEO Mike Whan saying he would be “super surprised” if Woods showed up for the U.S. Open. Whan also said he does not think Woods will play in any 2026 USGA championship, a view that arrives as Woods works back from his March 27 car accident and April inpatient treatment stay.
Whan on Woods at Shinnecock
“I’d be super surprised,” Whan said when asked about Woods’s chances at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. He added, “It would be wonderful for the event, and if he was ready, it would be wonderful for him.”
Whan’s comments cut against the idea that Woods’s registration for the 2026 U.S. Senior Open was a sign he was close to returning. Just hours before the March 27 crash, the USGA had confirmed Woods had entered that championship, a move that briefly pointed toward a possible competitive return.
Woods and the USGA calendar
The U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills is set for June 15-21, while the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, runs July 2-5. Woods would need a special exemption to play in the U.S. Open this year because he is not eligible.
Whan said, “I don’t think he’s going to play in any 2026 USGA championship.” He also said, “He’s proven before that when he puts his mind to something, he’s going to be great at it.”
Shinnecock history for Woods
Shinnecock has already produced three different outcomes for Woods. He withdrew there in 1995 with a wrist injury, finished 17th in 2004 and missed the cut by two strokes in 2018. He also received an exemption in 2024 for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, where he missed the cut.
Whan said, “Obviously what he’s going through is much bigger than golf.” He added, “I’m sure he has a lot of years to play USGA championships.”
For now, the clearest sign is the one Whan gave. “If he ends up playing in USGA championships, great,” he said, “But when I think of Tiger, my friend, that’s not really what’s important to me right now.”
