Woods' son comes up short for US Open

Charlie Woods AFP FILE PHOTO

MIAMI, Florida: Charlie Woods, the 15-year-old son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, carded an 81 on Thursday (Friday in Manila) to come up short in his bid to qualify for the US Open.

The teenaged Woods was among 84 entries in the local qualifier in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the top five advanced to 36-hole qualifying in June.

His score was five strokes better than he posted in an attempt to qualify for the US PGA Tour Cognizant Cup in February, but the nine-over round left him tied for 61st at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.

The USGA said Woods was among 10,084 golfers entering local qualifiers trying to gain one of 80 places in the field for the US Open at Pinehurst in June.

Sites in 44 US states and Canada are conducting 109 local qualifiers through May 20.

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy said Wednesday he is ready to return to the PGA Tour’s policy board if wanted, believing he can help reunite the golfing world following the acrimonious civil war with LIV Golf.

McIlroy stepped down from the board in a surprise move last November, saying he wanted to concentrate on his own game rather than the off-course politics that had dominated golf since the emergence of the Saudi-backed LIV circuit.

However, reports this week have said the four-time major champion is poised to rejoin the board after Webb Simpson tendered his resignation on the condition that McIlroy take his place.

Asked about the reports on Wednesday ahead of Zurich Classic in New Orleans, McIlroy would not confirm that he was set to make a dramatic return to the board.