5 Big Names Missing The US Open

The US Open is here, with Torrey Pines hosting for the first time since Tiger Woods’ historic 2008 victory.

As always, there is a super-strong field but, with each Major having its own entry criteria, certain big names have failed to qualify.

There are also a couple of star names missing with injury, including three-time US Open winner Tiger Woods.

5 Big Names Missing The US Open

Tiger Woods

One of Tiger’s greatest moments came at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines

Woods will not tee it up at Torrey Pines this week, scene of his incredible 2008 US Open triumph, where he played 91 holes and defied a broken leg to defeat Rocco Mediate.

The 15-time Major winner is currently out injured and recovering after his horrific car crash in February.

Woods suffered serious leg, foot and ankle injuries in the accident, all whilst he was sidelined already from his fifth back surgery in December.

He recently said that the rehab he is going through is “more painful than anything I have ever experienced.”

Related: How to watch the 2021 US Open

Rickie Fowler

Fowler will not return to the scene of his first ever Major start in 2008

Despite a T8 at the PGA Championship, which he received a special exemption for, and a T11 at the Memorial, Rickie is not eligible for the US Open this year.

He came up one shot shy of the playoff in the qualifier in Columbus, Ohio last week.

It is the first time he has missed his national Open since 2010 and he’ll be extra disappointed this week after making his first US Open (and Major) appearance at Torrey Pines back in 2008 as an amateur.

Rickie has had three top-10s in the US Open including in 2014 at Pinehurst where he was T2nd.

Jason Day

The two-time US Open runner-up is out with injury

The Aussie is not at Torrey Pines this week, a venue where he won the 2015 and 2018 Farmers Insurance Open.

Day has been plagued with back injuries over the past few years and most recently withdrew from the Memorial Tournament.

He was runner-up in 2011 and 2013 at the US Open, and this will be the first Major he has missed since the 2012 Open.

It’s not all bad news for the Aussie, though, as he and wife Ellie are expecting their fourth child any day now.

Graeme McDowell

2010 champion Graeme McDowell is no longer eligible

The Northern Irishman’s 10-year exemption has expired after his 2010 US Open victory at Pebble Beach.

G-Mac has played in the tournament every year since his triumph, and almost won the trophy again in 2012 when he was T2nd at the Olympic Club.

The former World No.4 is currently 162nd in the world rankings, with his best result so far this year, a T4, coming at the Corales Puntacana Championship.

His last victory came at the 2020 Saudi International.

Brandt Snedeker

Sneds misses his first US Open since 2012

The American misses the US Open for the first time since 2012 and only the second time since 2005.

Sneds has dropped to 140th in the world and is without a victory since 2018.

He was T6th at the Valero Texas Open this year, which is his only top-10 finish from his last 31 starts.