The 48-year-old didn’t have the ideal comeback at the 2023 Hero World Challenge. Nor did he follow it up with the best of performances in the subsequent events. The golf world had, inevitably, placed Tiger Woods under much scrutiny, with some even declaring that the 15-time major champ “will never win again.” But it’s not all criticism that is aimed at the athlete. Fast forward to the 2024 U.S. Open and it seems that the golfer has managed to achieve a feat, even beating the likes of Scottie Scheffler.

A tweet was shared by Golf Digest on their X handle (formerly Twitter) just hours ago. It showcased many young fans and children waiting to get the autographs of their favorite golfers at the U.S. Open. Many of the young enthusiasts were queried about whose signature they were most excited to get this weekend. Their replies would have surely brought a smile to Woods’s face!

Tiger Woods one-ups Scottie Scheffler, albeit unknowingly

The 82-time major PGA Tour champ found himself at T86 after the day’s play on Thursday. But that didn’t stop his young fans from expressing their desire to get his autograph at the major. As many as 34 little enthusiasts mentioned his name when posed with the question, while Scheffler trailed behind him at second with 19 and Rory McIlroy at third with 12.

Such a response is nothing short of surprising, especially after seeing many in the community drag the golfer through a lot of criticism. Some had even gone ahead to mock Woods by commenting, “He’s scouting, after which round is the best time to WD,” when he visited the Augusta National to check the course ahead of the 2024 Masters.

The jabs didn’t stop even at the ongoing event when fans took to X to troll the golfer for the slow play that his group exhibited. Woods had reportedly taken around 44 minutes to complete his second hole from the time he teed off on Thursday. Followers, as a result, pointed it out in disbelief when they responded with comments such as “42 to play 2 holes?!” and “Gezzus. That’s embarrassing.”

The young ones, however, don’t seem to care. They just want a token of presence from a legend of the sport who had emerged victorious 82 times on the Jay Monahan-led circuit, including 15 majors. But even such support might not be enough for the Hall of Famer Tiger Woods to clinch his 16th major win.

Woods at the 124th U.S. Open

The 48-year-old carded a total of six birdies on Thursday while scoring just two birdies at the par-5 5th and the par-5 10th. He finished tied with 18 other golfers, including Dustin Johnson, and Lucas Glover, among others, at T86 while sporting figures of 4-over 74. If he is not able to put up a better display of golf on Friday, then Woods might very well not make the cut for Moving Day.

Out of the three starts he made this year, Woods withdrew from one (remember the Genesis Invitational influenza episode? ), finished T60 at the Masters, and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Both his little and big fans would thus surely want the athlete to put up a better display of golf this time around. But will he be able to do it? They can only wait and watch!