Augusta, GA
Tiger Woods gets special exemption to U.S. Open at Pinehurst
Tiger Woods accepted a special exemption for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, the first time the three-time champion has needed an exemption to play.
Woods has been exempt for every U.S. Open since he first played in 1995 as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. His five-year exemption from winning the 2019 Masters expired last year.
The exemption was expected and likely to be the first of many. The USGA is particular about who is exempt from qualifying, last awarding one in 2021 to Phil Mickelson.
Jack Nicklaus, with four U.S. Open titles among his 18 professional majors, received a record eight special exemptions, including five in a row until he stopped playing the U.S. Open after 2000 at Pebble Beach.
Arnold Palmer received five U.S. Open exemptions, the last one in 1994 when he returned to Oakmont near his hometown for a tearful farewell.
Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by 15 shots, a record margin of victory for any major champion. He added another title in 2002 at Bethpage Black in New York, and he famously won his third U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 just a week before he had reconstructive surgery on his left knee.
“The U.S. Open, our national championship, is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped define my career,” Woods said in a statement. “I’m honoured to receive this exemption and could not be more excited for the opportunity to compete in this year’s U.S. Open, especially at Pinehurst, a venue that means so much to the game.”
The U.S. Open is June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2, which is staging the Open for the fourth time. Woods tied for third, two shots behind the late Payne Stewart, in 1999. He was runner-up at Pinehurst in 2005 to Michael Campbell. He missed the most recent Open at Pinehurst in 2014 while recovering from the first of what would be four back surgeries.
Woods has a long history with the USGA as the only player to win the U.S. Junior Amateur three straight times, followed by the U.S. Amateur three straight times. His nine USGA championships are matched only by amateur great Bobby Jones.
Woods earlier this year was selected to receive the Bob Jones Award, the highest honour from the USGA.
“The story of the U.S. Open could not be written without Tiger Woods,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s chief championships officer. ”From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is in the field, and his accomplishments in the game undoubtedly made this an easy decision for our special exemption committee.”
It will be the first time Woods competes in the U.S. Open since Winged Foot in 2020, held in September before no fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He crashed his car in Los Angeles and badly injured his right leg and ankle in February 2021, causing him to miss the U.S. Open’s return to Torrey Pines. While he returned to competition a year later, the U.S. Open at Brookline in 2022 was the only major he didn’t play. A year ago, Woods had surgery to fuse his right ankle after the Masters and did not play the rest of the year, missing the U.S. Open’s debut at Los Angeles Country Club.
Woods last contended at the U.S. Open in 2010 at Pebble Beach, where he shot 66 in the third round but then closed with a 75 and tied for fourth.
He is expected to play in the PGA Championship in two weeks at Valhalla, where he won in 2000 on his way to capturing all four majors consecutively. Woods said during a round of appearances on NBC shows earlier this week to promote his clothing line that his plan was to play the remaining three majors.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Partners with the Atlanta Braves teamed up with Golden Harvest on Friday to help fight hunger in Augusta.
It’s part of the efforts of the Atlanta Braves Foundation.
20 season ticket holders and staff helped create backpacks helping the community by taking part in the food packing project.
Those backpacks are helping families have additional food resources as students finish the school year.
The vice president of the GreenJackets spoke about giving back.
“I mean 9 a.m. we had a game last night that went pretty long everyone looks like they are having a good time. Like I said it’s good for staff and season ticket holders to get together to do something for the community,” said Tom Denlinger.
On Friday night, the Braves’ country road trip is headed to SRP Park, and the partnership continues this weekend, helping set up Thunder Over Evans on Saturday.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
I-TEAM UPDATE: City leader calls for answers on silent alarms at Augusta Fire Department
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Questions about the reliability of the Augusta Fire Department’s emergency response have caught the attention of Augusta Commission member Catherine Smith McKnight.
News 12′s I-TEAM uncovered 139 cases over the past two years when dispatch calls to Augusta’s fire stations failed to go through. That led to delays in response times.
Among those delays and dispatch errors was a deadly house fire – just across the street from a fire station. Two people were found just steps from the home’s front door.
THE INVESTIGATION SO FAR:
The I-TEAM took our findings to McKnight, who currently chairs Augusta Richmond County’s public safety committee.
McKnight said she was unaware of any problems and the issue was never brought up in the committee or in commission.
However, McKnight says she now wants answers and says this safety concern is a priority. She says she will bring it up at the next Augusta Commission public safety committee and commission meetings.
McKnight told News 12 she is shocked that our I-TEAM investigation is the first time this safety issue has been brought to her attention and questions why dispatch errors haven’t been brought up earlier.
McKnight went on to say no family should have to go through having to worry about this or suffer the loss of a family member.
News 12 has repeatedly requested an interview with Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden, who has denied or not responded to our invitation to sit down and answer questions about what his department has done to alert commissioners or to find the root of the dispatch errors.
McKnight’s official statement:
As the Public Safety Committee Chairman, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Teresa Ingram and Rex Williams who both lost their lives in a house fire. Just finding out about this tragedy that took place last year on October 14, 2023, has me asking questions as to why a fire station that sits 200 yards across the street from this house where the fire broke out and yet not one crew member saw it happen is baffling. As a sitting Commissioner, I want answers from our Dispatch Department Director and Fire Chief about the malfunction of the Purvis system and dispatching problems so that moving forward we can prevent something like this from happening again. Public Safety is top priority as a Commissioner of this county and the lives of our citizens. It is imperative that we have the best equipment and that it constantly be monitored and maintained to ensure safety for all.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A ribbon cutting was held on Friday for the new south Augusta’s Farmers Market on Windsor Spring Road.
Leaders say the grand opening represents a big milestone as the farmers market celebrates their third year of growth and community engagement.
The farmers market provides access to fresh organic produce and local homemade goods.
It’s also connecting the local community with the same farmers that grew the produce, like Kahn Hassan, in hopes of growing the industry he says needs more hands and help
“Currently what we are struggling with in the farming community right now is young farmers. We have a lot of older farmers that are passing off the knowledge to the younger ones. But as far as creating interest in farming, we want to be able to bring as many facets to it as we can,” said Hassan.
You can connect with farmers like Hassan on the third Friday of every month in south August at 6 p.m.
They will even have some information on programs where you can sign up and be part of if you are interested in farming.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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