Many assumed that after his car crash last week, Tiger Woods would not be playing at The Masters.
Woods was a game-time decision before the incident, as he recovered from a back surgery that he underwent in October last year. He revealed at the Genesis Invitational that he hoped to play at The Masters, but at the TGL Final, he said he still hadn’t made a decision.
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It was fair to assume that Woods’ car accident made his decision for him. If he was already struggling with his back, then surely this would rule him out?
Apparently not, as reports show that the 15-time major winner hasn’t skipped a beat with his training regime in the build-up to The Masters.
Photo by Cliff Hawkins/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images
Update given on Tiger Woods’ chances of winning The Masters
Sources have told NUCLR GOLF that despite his car crash last week, five-time Masters champion Woods has continued to practice as normal.
After Gary Woodland’s Houston Open win on Sunday, an updated playing field was posted to include the newly qualified players, and Woods was still included on that list.
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Reports said there is still no indication of whether Woods will play, as he continues to evaluate his back condition in the weeks leading up to Augusta National.
Woods has previously said he would love to play at The Masters, but this decision will depend solely on whether his back allows him to. The car crash doesn’t appear to have changed that stance.
Woods was arrested for driving under the influence after a car crash in Florida, according to officials.
He and the other driver involved in this two-car collision were uninjured. Woods was subsequently released from the Martin County Jail on Friday night.
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His breathalyser test registered a 0.00 according to the police. However, deputies determined Woods was impaired and said he did not submit to a urine test.
This is the latest in a series of driving-related incidents relating to Woods. In 2021, Woods was in danger of losing his leg after a rollover crash in Los Angeles, which required him to undergo a number of surgeries.
Perhaps now the question Woods should be asking isn’t if he can play at The Masters, but if he should.
Tiger Woods should not play at the 2026 Masters
Brandel Chamblee is among a series of commentators who have suggested Woods retire from golf following this incident. While that’s an extreme measure, it’s clear that the greatest of all time would benefit from some time away.
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Woods is constantly driven by the pressure to return to the PGA Tour, and that has dominated the headlines and his life for the last few months. He’s been trying desperately to get healthy for The Masters, approaching his rehab with the intensity he used to dominate the sport.
So perhaps it’s time for Woods to simply breathe. He can take his time rehabbing properly, spend a year getting his body right, then, once he’s healthy, make sure his mind is right too.
Even if he feels he can play golf competitively, it seems he would benefit from a break from the day-to-day grind. By setting a target of the 2027 Masters, Woods can return a hero instead of turning up to The Masters with a mess in his wake.
Because above all else, all of us want Woods to be happy and healthy.
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