The effects of Tiger Woods’ crash one week ago continue to ripple outward through the golf universe. Two Masters legends have weighed in on Woods in advance of the 2026 Masters, and the verdict is a grim one for Woods.
“I feel sorry for Tiger that he is living 24-7 in pain … but it has all been self-inflicted,” three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo told the Telegraph. “There are two sides to this right now. There’s one side that’s like … let’s care for Tiger. And then there has got to be a responsibility and an accountability side as well.”
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Woods wrecked his SUV last Friday when he drove into the trailer of a pickup truck on a narrow road in Jupiter Island, Fla. Woods was arrested at the scene after appearing lethargic and disoriented, and later was charged with DUI. He has pleaded not guilty, withdrawing from public view and planned events, and has since asked a judge to allow him to continue treatment outside of the country.
In this image from police body camera video released by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office, golfer Tiger Woods performs a field sobriety test for sheriff’s deputies following a car crash in Jupiter Island, Fla., Friday, March 27, 2026. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
“The bottom line is that I really think that this is a serious issue and something should be done that is a little bit more serious than waving him off to a tropical island and saying ‘welcome back’ in three or four months or whatever it might be,” Faldo told The Telegraph. “I’ve got a feeling that if he disappears and comes back in a couple of months, everything will carry on as normal. I’m not sure if that is right.”
Faldo also took aim at the PGA Tour, which released a statement of support for Tiger shortly after his arrest. Woods currently serves as chairman of the Tour’s Future Competition Committee, which is tasked with charting the future of the game.
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“I look at the PGA Tour statement, it was so predictably weak. The Tour will look after him, as they always have done,” Faldo said, adding “I would have thought the PGA Tour, behind closed doors, must be very disappointed that they pay Tiger tens of millions to be on the course and off the course with this business role he has got … (saying) ‘Oh boy, what do we get out of that?’ In the normal walk of life, there would be some accountability.”
Jack Nicklaus, who has won six Masters tournaments, was more measured in his assessment of Woods. “Obviously I feel bad for Tiger,” Nicklaus said to The Palm Beach Post. “I like Tiger. I don’t just like him, I like him a lot. He’s been taking painkillers for a long time and I don’t know how much pain he’s in because I just don’t know. But I don’t think he’d be taking them if he didn’t need them.”
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Nicklaus conceded that Woods likely needs some outside assistance at this point. “Sometimes you get, you know, too far down the line and you just need somebody to help you,” he said. “I think he probably needs some help. And we all want to help him. We’re all on his side.”