Before this year, the last time the USGA handed out a special exemption to the US Open was 2005 (Nick Price got it).  In April, the USGA granted one to Tom Watson because of the golfer’s performance at last year’s British Open and this year’s Masters, plus the nostalgia factor of his 1982 US Open win at Pebble Beach, site of this year’s Open as well. So things didn’t look good for Vijay Singh, who fell out of the world’s top 50 rankings for the first time in almost two decades just before last month’s US Open cutoff.

Singh was scheduled to play a 36-hole qualifier on Monday, right after playing in the Memorial this weekend, but was saying he wouldn’t show, ending his string of 63 straight Majors — the longest active streak in golf.  But Wednesday, the USGA decided to throw Singh his own special exemption.

“We give out special exemptions rarely,” said Mike Davis, the senior director of rules and competitions for the USGA, but Singh’s “arguably one of the top four players of his era.”

Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., chairman of the USGA’s championship committee, said Vijay deserved the exemption because of his resume and health issues:

There were many compelling reasons for us to invite Vijay Singh into the field of this year’s US Open, particularly his three wins in majors in the last 12 years. He has played through injuries, which caused him to drop, quite quickly this year, in the world rankings. He’s always been competitive at the US Open, and he is healthy and playing well again.’

Last year, Lucas Glover played a 36-hole qualifier in Ohio, and then went on to win the US Open.

Singh, who started 2009 ranked 5th in the world, is currently ranked 63rd.  He missed the cut at this year’s Masters.