Tiger Woods has registered for the 2016 U.S. Open
We don’t know when Tiger Woods will return to competitive golf, but the smoke signals from Jupiter Island, Fla., seem to suggest it’s going to be sooner than later.
The latest indication Woods could be inside the ropes soon is that he registered for the U.S. Open at Oakmont in June. Woods registered on April 4 — Monday of Masters Week — at 4:33 p.m., well ahead of the April 27 at 5 p.m. Eastern deadline.
For what it’s worth, eligible former U.S. Open champions, as well other notable players like Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy, have already filled out the paperwork, too. They’re in the field.
Woods announced on April 1 that he wasn’t yet healthy enough to compete in the Masters, though he did attend the annual Champions Dinner. He suggested then, as his agent Mark Steinberg did last week, that there is no timetable for his return. However, there are signs that Woods is getting closer.
Golf World’s Tim Rosaforte reported Woods has been putting in serious time in practice sessions, spanning hours on end, including some golf course play. Woods then conducted a clinic for the elite junior players in last week’s Sage Valley Invitational in South Carolina, going through his bag at full speed, including 300-yard drives and 2-iron stingers. Rosaforte then reported that, while no return has been announced, Woods could return at the Wells Fargo Championship or The Players Championship in two and three weeks’ time, respectively.
Woods is a 14-time major champion, with three U.S. Open titles to his credit, winning his first by 15 shots in 2000 at Pebble Beach, then taking the 2002 title at Bethpage Black on Long Island, then winning the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines (South) in a 19-hole playoff with Rocco Mediate, doing so basically on one leg.
The former world No. 1 hasn’t played competitively since finishing tied for 10th at the Wyndham Championship in late August. He’s since had two back surgeries: a microdiscectomy in September 2015 on the same place in his back where he had the procedure performed in March 2014 and a follow-up procedure a month later.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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