The gates are now open at Pinehurst No. 2 for the 124th U.S. Open. Players started practicing on the course Monday morning.
WRAL's Lora Lavigne said Tiger Woods was seen arriving around 6:30 a.m. Woods hasn't won a major event since his triumph at the 2019 Masters. He's played a more limited schedule since suffering a career-threatening leg injury in a car crash in 2021.
Woods finished tied for third at the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst and finished second in 2005. He last played in the U.S. Open in 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Westchester County, New York.
Fans came from all over to see Woods practice. The 15-time major champion got a special exemption to play in the U.S. Open.
"I drove from Mississippi last night to get here to watch him in the practice round," said Garett Blanchard. "I hope he can stick it together and stay healthy."
Raleigh native Webb Simpson speaks before start of US Open
Raleigh native Webb Simpson spoke Monday with reporters about playing at Pinehurst No. 2.
Simpson recalled winning a tournament at the course with his dad. He also played in state championships at courses Nos. 2, 4, 6 and 8.
"There's just so much history whether you look at junior golf, high school golf, college golf, amateur golf," Simpson said. "It was all right here."
Simpson is due to play in his first major since the 2023 PGA Championship.
"[It's] definitely satisfying to quality knowing I earned the spot, I guess," Simpson said.
Simpson spoke about the play of Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 golfer in the world.
"To play this well for this amount of time, I mean, it's been a couple years where he's for sure the guy to beat every week, it's fun to watch and I don't see any reason that he's going to slow down anytime soon," Simpson said.
Scheffler and his wife just had a newborn son.
"I think all the players are like, 'Man, maybe he's sleep deprived,' but even if he is, he's still winning," Simpson said of Scheffler. "So good for him."
In late May, a Louisville prosecutor dropped all charges against Scheffler, who had been accused of disobeying and injuring a police officer on his way to his second round of the PGA Championship.
Pinehurst set to host 124th US Open
The U.S. Open is expected to bring more than 200,000 visitors to Pinehurst.
As the huge crowds arrive, the town is preparing for heavy traffic, closed roads and multiple travel options.
Several roads around Pinehurst will be closed, including Morganton Road, Muster Branch Road, Pine Tree Road and Village Green Road.
Open Express: Special train runs from Raleigh to Pinehurst
NC By Train will offer a special train, called the Open Express, from Raleigh to Pinehurst for the U.S. Open.
The “Open Express” train will run daily between Raleigh Union Station and the Pinehurst Clubhouse near the Pinehurst No. 2 golf course from June 13-16, when championship play is scheduled for the U.S. Open. The practice rounds for the golf tourney are June 10-12.
“Special trains and stops like this provide the opportunity to avoid potential traffic and parking issues at large events and also show people everything that’s possible when we improve and expand our intercity passenger rail," said State Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins.
U.S. Open at Pinehurst: Where to eat, shop and relax
“This is an exciting, historic event and we welcome this opportunity to give golf fans an enjoyable, stress-free way to travel to and from Pinehurst with their friends and families," said Amtrak Vice President Ray Lang said.
The morning train will depart Raleigh Union Station at 7 a.m. and Cary at 7:15 a.m. and arrive in Pinehurst at approximately 9:10 a.m. The evening train will depart from the Pinehurst Clubhouse at 6:35 p.m. and arrive in Cary at about 8:30 p.m. and Raleigh Union Station about 15 minutes later.
The “Open Express” train tickets are available for purchase now on Amtrak.com.
Parking: Driving to the U.S. Open in Pinehurst
The key is following the signs, which will lead drivers to one of two free parking lots.
- Red Lot on Highway 73, north of Pinehurst, which is where people coming from the Triangle will head.
- Blue Lot in Aberdeen, south of Pinehurst
Shuttle buses will carry people back and forth.
In the Village of Pinehurst there will be no parking and some roads will be closed.
WRAL News has your guide to the U.S. Open: How to watch, where to get tickets & finding parking
WRAL News has created a guide to everything you need to know about the U.S. Open, including tickets, parking, what to bring, game times and more.
The 2024 U.S. Open Guide can be found here.
WRAL News has also put together a glimpse of the U.S. Open site and everything there is to do there.
Golf fans get first glimpse of Pinehurst No. 2 before 2024 US Open
Your glimpse of the U.S. Open Site can be found here.
