For the second straight year, the man whose 15 major victories are second only to Jack Nicklaus’ 18 will miss all four of the season’s major championships. As reported by Sports Illustrated on Tuesday, Tiger Woods has not entered July’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, and with no exemption into next month’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, the 50-year-old will be absent from the game’s biggest events this summer.

Woods also missed all of the majors last year while recovering after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in March 2025.

Woods had disc replacement back surgery last October and seemed to leave a slight opening for possibly playing in April’s Masters. But on March 27, he was involved in a car accident near his home in Jupiter, Fla., and arrested on the scene for driving under the influence, failing a sobriety test and refusing to take a urine test. There were also two hydrocodone pills in his pocket.

Woods has pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. On May 12, a judge overseeing the case ruled that prosecutors could get access to the golfer’s medication records. Woods’ lawyers had argued for a protective order, asserting that the golfer’s medications records should not be open to the public. The judge did approve a protective order that restricted access to the records.

On March 31, Woods announced he would step away to “seek treatment and focus on my health.” Then on April 1, a Martin (Florida) County court judge granted a motion for Woods to travel to Switzerland for treatment away from media and public scrutiny.

Woods then travelled to Switzerland and was there until reports surfaced last week that he returned to Florida. It has been speculated that he came back to support his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, the ex-daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump.

On Saturday, flight trackers reported that Woods’ plane had returned to Switzerland—ostensibly to resume what has been reported to be three months of treatment.

The winner of 82 PGA Tour titles, Woods is approaching two years of not playing official competitive golf. His last tournament was he 2024 Open Championship at Troon, where he missed the cut. Prior to that, he’d played four times that season—withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational due to illness, finishing 60th in the Masters, and missing the cut in both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. He is now more than five years removed from his last major victory—an improbable and revered triumph, at the age of 45, in the 2019 Masters.

The Masters, with its lifetime exemption for winners (as long as they can be competitive), and the Open Championship (champions exempt until 60) are the only majors for which Woods still holds future status.

Sports Illustrated also reported that Phil Mickelson has submitted an entry into the Open Championship. The 55-year-old won the Claret Jug in 2013 at Muirfield and has competed in 31 of the past 32 Opens. He has, however, played only one tournament on LIV Golf this season and didn’t play in the Masters and PGA Championship while citing “family health issues.” Mickelson was not exempt for the U.S. Open and did not attempt to qualify.

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Trump has endured a turbulent period in recent months. Woods was taken into custody in March following a car accident and was held on suspicion of drink-driving. He later entered a treatment facility in Zurich, Switzerland, before returning to Florida last week.

In her statement, Trump said: “I’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. While this isn’t news anyone expects, I’m working closely with my medical team on a treatment plan.

“I would like to thank my doctors for performing a procedure earlier this week on me. I am staying focused and hopeful while surrounded by the love and support of my family, my kids, and those closest to me.

“Thank you for your kindness and support it truly means more than I can express. I kindly ask for privacy as I focus on my health and recovery. Vanessa.”

Woods attended Kai Trump’s high school graduation ceremony at the Benjamin School alongside Vanessa and her daughter. His own children also attend the private school, where he first met Trump. The pair went public with their relationship in 2024.

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Florida prosecutors are seeking Tiger Woods’ prescription records from a pharmacy following his car crash and subsequent arrest for suspicion of DUI.

A motion for subpoena filed Tuesday in Martin County Court is seeking information from Lewis Pharmacy in Palm Beach regarding any medication given to Woods from the beginning of the year until March 27, the day that Woods clipped a truck and rolled his own vehicle. According to the filing, the details prosecutors are seeking includes “date and time prescription was filled, type of prescription, number of pills in each prescription, the dosage amount, all special instructions on how to take the medication, date of next refill, all warnings, including but not limited to operating a motor vehicle while taking the prescription.”

Woods’ attorneys expressed the golfer’s “intent to participate in discovery” in the case.

Woods was found carrying two hydrocodone pills in his pocket after the crash, an opioid typically prescribed for severe, chronic pain. According to the affidavit, Woods told a sheriff’s deputy he had been looking at his cell phone and changing the radio station, and failed to notice the vehicle ahead of him had slowed at the time of the accident. The deputy, assessing Woods at the scene, observed a number of impairment indicators, including profuse sweating, bloodshot and glassy eyes, lethargic and slow movements and persistent hiccups throughout the encounter

Woods denied consuming alcohol but acknowledged taking prescription medication “earlier in the morning,” telling the deputy, “I take a few.” He also disclosed a medical history that underscores the severity of his physical condition with seven back surgeries and more than 20 leg operations, factors that influenced how deputies administered field sobriety exercises.

Following the arrest, Woods announced that he is stepping away from golf to seek treatment. Last week a judge allowed the 15-time major winner to travel to an international facility. Woods’ attorney argued the relocation was a matter of medical necessity, citing an “urgent need for a level of care that cannot safely or effectively be done within the United States” given that Woods’ privacy had been repeatedly compromised.

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In video from Martin County’s police, Woods is seen with sunglasses and a backwards how, kneeling with his right leg on the ground and the left perched with his arms crossed over it. When the audio comes on, Woods can be heard explaining, in his estimation, how the accident occurred. “I looked down at my phone, and all of the sudden, boom,” Woods tells an officer.

Woods cooperates as the officer searches his back for anything on Woods’ person, with the officer telling Woods a medical team will check him out.

Woods is later asked if he’s been drinking, which he says no. He later says he’s on medication, his answers which are muted. When audio comes back, an officer asks if Woods has taken all the medication he has just listed that day, to which Woods responds “yes.” He is then administered several exercises, afterwards Woods is told by the officer that she believes his facilities are impaired, to which Woods’ responds “I am being arrested?” He is then cuffed and arrested as officers search his pockets, in which pills and a case of nicotine-free pouches are found.

According to the arrest affidavit, Woods was found carrying two hydrocodone pills in his left pants pocket at the scene. The deputy noted several impairment indicators: profuse sweating despite cool temperatures, bloodshot and glassy eyes with severely dilated pupils, lethargic and slow movements, and persistent hiccups throughout the encounter.

Woods entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to misdemeanour charges of DUI and refusal to submit to a lawful test. That same day, he issued a public statement acknowledging the situation.

“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods said. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritise my well-being and work toward lasting recovery. I’m committed to taking the time needed to return to a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally.”

On Wednesday, a judge granted Woods permission to leave the United States to seek treatment at an international inpatient facility. Woods’ attorney had argued an “urgent need for a level of care that cannot safely or effectively be done within the United States” given that Woods’ privacy had been repeatedly compromised. “Ongoing medical scrutiny and public exposure create significant barriers to his care,” Duncan wrote, “and would result in setbacks and an inability to fully engage in treatment.”Woods will not be at next week’s Masters, and the PGA of America has said Woods has stepped down from consideration for the 2027 Ryder Cup captaincy.

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A judge has granted Tiger Woods permission to leave the United States to seek treatment at an international inpatient facility. The move comes four days after the 15-time major champion was arrested on suspicion of DUI following a rollover car crash in Florida.

Martin County Court Judge Darren Steele approved the motion Wednesday following a teleconference with Woods’ attorney Douglas Duncan and Assistant State Attorney Caroline Houston. Duncan argued the relocation was a matter of medical necessity, citing an “urgent need for a level of care that cannot safely or effectively be done within the United States” given that Woods’ privacy had been repeatedly compromised.R

“Ongoing medical scrutiny and public exposure create significant barriers to his care,” Duncan wrote, “and would result in setbacks and an inability to fully engage in treatment.”

Woods entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to misdemeanour charges of DUI and refusal to submit to a lawful test. That same day, he issued a public statement acknowledging the gravity of his circumstances.

“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods said. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritise my well-being and work toward lasting recovery. I’m committed to taking the time needed to return to a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally.”

According to the arrest affidavit, Woods was found carrying two hydrocodone pills in his left pants pocket at the scene. He told a sheriff’s deputy he had been distracted—looking at his phone and changing the radio—when the vehicle ahead of him slowed. The deputy noted several impairment indicators: profuse sweating despite cool temperatures, bloodshot and glassy eyes with severely dilated pupils, lethargic and slow movements, and persistent hiccups throughout the encounter.

The arrest is the latest in a series of legal and personal difficulties for Woods. In 2017, he was taken into custody on a reckless driving charge; toxicology results revealed five different drugs in his system and in 2021 Woods suffered significant injuries in a single-car accident.

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In news that is not especially stunning, but still impactful, the PGA of America announced Wednesday afternoon that Tiger Woods will not be the next U.S. Ryder Cup captain.

Prior to his recent car accident and arrest last Friday in Jupiter, Florida, it was widely understood that the job belonged to him if he wanted it, and according to the PGA of America, it was Tiger’s choice to take or pass on the job. The fact that he is not doing it was more widely expected following Woods’ own announcement on Tuesday that he’d be “stepping away” and seeking treatment as part of his recovery process.

“We commend Tiger for prioritising his long-term health and deeply respect the courage it takes to make such a personal decision,” they wrote. “Tiger has shared with us that he will not serve as Captain of the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup Team and we support his decision. The PGA of America will share further updates regarding the Ryder Cup Captaincy when appropriate.”

You can read the full statement here:

Statement from the PGA of America pic.twitter.com/vRjdXiR7yU

— PGA of America (@PGA) April 1, 2026

Prior to his accident, Woods was undecided on the captaincy position. The next Ryder Cup will be held at Adare Manor in Ireland in 2027, and for years it has been open speculation that Woods’ connection with Adare Manor’s billionaire owner J.P. McManus—along, of course, with Woods’ status in the sport—made him the logical choice for the job.

Now, uncertainty reigns, with possible options ranging from 2026 Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker to tested captains like Davis Love III, though it’s entirely possible the PGA of America will choose someone totally unexpected, as they did with the selection of Keegan Bradley for the 2025 Bethpage Ryder Cup. Luke Donald will captain the European side for the third straight time.

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“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods began his post. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritise my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.

“I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”

pic.twitter.com/T70784akfW

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 31, 2026

The statement puts an end to speculation about if Woods would compete in next week’s Masters or attend the Champions Dinner as a six-time winner. Following Woods’ statement, the Masters released a statement supporting his decision.

Simultaneous to Woods’ post, the PGA Tour released two statements.

The first was from CEO Brian Rolapp, who commented, “Tiger Woods is one of the most influential figures the sports world has ever known.

“Over the last year, I have come to deeply appreciate Tiger not only for his impact on the game, but for his friendship and the perspective he has shared with me as I joined the golf industry.

“My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step, for which he has my full respect and support.”

The other tour statement, which was not attributed to anyone, said, “Tiger Woods is a legend of our sport whose impact extends far beyond his achievements on the course. But above all else, Tiger is a person, and our focus is on his health and well‑being. Tiger continues to have our full support as he takes this important step.”

Prior to his arrest, there was the belief that Woods had been trying to ramp up to play at Augusta National following a ruptured Achilles’ tendon suffered last year and a back surgery he underwent in the fall.

Though Woods made an appearance during at the TGL Finals in late March, his competitive schedule has been nonexistent for nearly two years, with his last official appearance coming at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon. Woods has won the green jacket five times in his career, although this is his third missed Masters appearance in six years, not including an in-tournament WD in 2023.

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Woods, 50, entered a written plea of not guilty and planned to waive his appearance during an arraignment next month, according to an online court docket in Martin County, Florida. He is also asking for a jury trial.

Woods’ defence attorney is Douglas Duncan, who represented him in the 2017 case in which Woods was arrested for DUI when found asleep behind the wheel of his car. In that case, Woods was found to have five drugs in his system. He ultimately pleaded guilty to reckless driving and agreed to enter a diversion program as part of a plea deal.

Earlier in the day, the Martin County Sheriff’s Department released a probable cause affidavit that said Woods was found carrying two hydrocodone pills in his pants pocket following the crash in which he was allegedly driving at a high rate of speed when he clipped the trailer of a work truck and his car flipped onto its left side.

The document said Woods told a sheriff’s deputy that he was looking at his cell phone and changing the radio station, and failed to notice the vehicle ahead of him.

Upon assessing Woods at the scene, the deputy observed several impairment indicators, including: profuse sweating, bloodshot eyes with extremely dilated pupils, lethargic and slow movements, and persistent hiccups.

Woods was arrested at the scene, and once he was taken to the sheriff’s station, he agreed to an alcohol breathalyser test, which he passed, but declined to provide a urine sample. He was charged with DUI, damage of property and refusing to provide the sample.

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For golf viewers interested in what CBS broadcasters might have to say about Tiger Woods during coverage of the upcoming Masters Tournament, the network position is one of respectful silence and adherence to a tradition over the past 70 years of offering the best production possible of the year’s first men’s major championship.

This assumes, of course, that Woods will not be playing in the 90th Masters after his automobile accident and DUI arrest on Friday near his home in Jupiter Island, Florida.

The question about Woods’ latest travails was bound to come up Monday during a CBS zoom conference call that included broadcasters Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman and Dottie Pepper and producer Sellers Shy. CBS is preparing to broadcast the Masters for the 71st consecutive year, the longest-running sporting event airing on one network.

“It’s obviously a big topic,” David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, replied when a reporter raised the question of how CBS might handle the subject of Woods. “I first want to just say that thankfully nobody’s injured. That’s the most important thing coming out of the news from this past week, and I definitely want to lead there.

“As for Tiger playing or not playing or being in Augusta, not being in Augusta, we don’t have information and it’s not fair to anyone for us to speak about it or to speculate. We just won’t do that. He and his team are going to have to be the ones who speak about it. It’s only fair if that’s the case. So we hope you’ll respect and appreciate that, but we just really don’t want to speculate on something.”

That’s not to say that CBS will shy away from any news involving the five-time Masters champion, but if Woods is not in the field next week as a competitor, then he is not part of the story involving who will be the next winner of the green jacket. Woods has not competed in a PGA Tour event since July 2024 and only returned to limited competition last week in the finals of TGL, the simulator league that he co-founded with reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy.

“Listen, Tiger’s a story, obviously, wherever he is, but our job during the tournament itself will be to cover the tournament,” Berson said. “Tiger obviously has a tremendous legacy at Augusta National with all his Masters victories and his voice in the sport. So of course, we’ll touch on things as necessary as news dictates, but for coverage of the event itself, we’re going to cover the event.”

Another human interest story that might garner more coverage is Gary Woodland’s emotional victory Sunday at the Texas Children’s Houston Open that earned him a Masters berth. Woodland won for the first time since the 2019 U.S. Open and only weeks after revealing his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder following brain surgery in 2023.

Woodland’s five-stroke victory resonated with the CBS crew, particularly Immelman, the network’s lead golf analyst and 2008 Masters winner. Woodland and Immelman were neighbors for some time at Lake Nona in Orlando. Woodland also stood as best man for Colt Knost, who is making his debut on the network’s Masters coverage this year.

Shy pointed out “how special [Woodland’s] win was for Team CBS” and “how close we are to him.”

“I’m sure everybody can agree, just such an amazing weekend of golf. I was glued to the TV, rooting on my great friend,” said Immelman, who soon after the last putt dropped sent Woodland a text. “We used to play and practice together quite a lot. And it was right when he was joining the tour, learning the ropes. And immediately you could see and feel the incredible talent that he is. And the charisma … there’s something special in the swagger that he has and the quiet self-confidence that he has. And obviously the last few years with what him and his family have been going through, it’s been real brutal on his friends and family and everybody that loves him to see him struggling through this.

“It’s just amazing to me in sports how you get these kind of comeback stories. And I don’t say this at all without acknowledging that, as he said yesterday, he’s still got to keep fighting and he still has hurdles ahead. But to see him have that moment and his family have that moment of reprieve where he’s living out his dreams and lifting trophies and enjoying being out there with his peers was just … It’s hard to not get emotional watching it yesterday. It’s hard to not get emotional now talking about it, quite honestly.”

It’s not a stretch, Immelman said, to think Woodland, 41, has a good chance to contend next week. He last played in the Masters in 2024. His best finish in 12 starts is T-14 in 2023, while he has missed the cut six times and withdrawn once.

“He’s clearly coming in there with a ton of confidence, feeling great about his game,” Immelman said. “He’s a major champion, and so he knows everything that that entails and how to construct and manage those weeks. And quite honestly, this is one of those stories where in a certain sense, it’s bigger than the game, it’s bigger than sports. I mean, I just want to see the guy and give him a hug and tell him well done and tell him how proud I am of him. So I look forward to that moment.”

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The replay has been shown so many times that an accurate count is impossible. (Millions feels right, but bajillions could be too.) The call by Gary Koch is one of the most iconic in golf history. (Tell me you haven’t uttered “Better than most” during a casual round, and I’ll tell you you’re lying.)

Tiger Woods’ sloping, slithering, serendipitous putt on the 17th green at TPC Sawgrass during the third round of the 2001 Players Championship is a shot that will never be forgotten. It’s only appropriate then that 25 years after it was struck, PGA Tour officials would commemorate the moment with a few special tributes during the third round of the 2026 Players Championship.

"BETTER THAN MOST!" 

This legendary @TigerWoods moment happened 22 years ago @THEPLAYERSChamp  #TOURVault pic.twitter.com/4vEC57voO3

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 7, 2023

The most obvious step is use the same hole location this Saturday, five paces on, five paces from the left. The flag on top of the flagstick also has “Better than Most” stitched on it.

More uniquely, the cup itself pays tribute to Woods and the putt.

“I think it’s safe to say you could hit that putt 50 times and make it only once,” Koch says after Woods buried the putt. Johnny Miller follows: “That was just another Tiger moment. One of the great long putts I’ve ever seen.”

Being 25 years since the putt dropped, PGATour.com talked to Woods, filming a segment of him watching the putt and explaining his emotions.

“I just wanted to get the right speed and get out of there,” Woods said. “That putt was quick. The group in front of me, I believe it was Fred Funk how four-putted from a similar spot.”

Fans go wild as Tiger Woods holes his ‘better than most’ putt on the 17th green at TPC Sawgrass during the third round of the 2001 Players Championship. Bob Martin

Woods continued: “It was moving I don’t think it would have been within 8 or 10 feet if it didn’t hit the hole.

It’s by far the best long putt I’ve ever hit. Given the hole, just the iconic hole it is itself, to make that putt on that green with so much movement at that particular time with that much on the line to try to get in the final group, it meant a lot.”

Indeed, Woods would go on to be in the final group on Sunday and shoot a closing 67 when the event was weather delayed into Monday, claiming the first of his two Players Championship victories. A month later, he’d win the Masters to complete the “Tiger Slam” of being the reigning champion in all four majors.

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