Tiger Woods has once again found trouble off the golf course, on Friday becoming involved in a fourth dangerous vehicular incident since 2009. This raises many questions about his personal health, the decisions he makes and where he goes from here — on and off the golf course. The Post’s Mark Cannizzaro, who has covered Woods since he turned professional in the mid 1990s, answers some of those questions.
Q: Is this latest incident indicative that Woods has a substance-abuse problem?
A: Absolutely. The addiction signs have been glaring for years, including Wood’s infamous 2017 arrest for driving under the influence of drugs. It appears his substance issues have been a product of the litany of pain killers he’s been on a result of his many injuries — back, knees, Achilles and the severe damage he did to his right leg in his 2021 crash into the woods outside of L.A. that nearly took his life. Woods, it should be noted, has already done at least one stint in rehab for pain-killer addiction issues.
Q: Will Woods be disciplined by the PGA Tour for this latest arrest?
A: Because the PGA Tour makes it its policy not to be transparent about any disciplinary action it levies against players, no one other than the Tour knows. I highly doubt he’s disciplined for a couple reasons: Firstly, he’s an integral part of the PGA Tour’s policy board, working closely with new CEO Brian Rolapp with new strategy and the future of the Tour. And secondly, he hasn’t played a tournament since the 2024 British Open, so what is suspending him from tournament play (the most common sanction) going to do? Plus, the PGA Tour benefits every time Woods shows up at a tournament, so there’s no way it’s going to do anything to discourage that.
Q: Will this latest incident affect Woods’ decision about whether he plays in the Masters, which begins on April 9?
A: Though he hadn’t made any announcements, there have been signs that Woods, a five-time winner of the green jacket, was leaning against playing at Augusta based on several comments he’d made recently about how difficult things are physically for him. Augusta, very hilly, is a difficult walk even for those who haven’t had the ailments Woods has endured. It’s still possible he’ll play — he remains signed up as a past-champion competitor — but it seems like the combination of his aforementioned physical challenges, along with the embarrassment of this latest incident, might lead to Woods laying low.
Q: What might this mean for Woods’ potential captaincy as the U.S. Ryder Cup leader in 2027 in Ireland?
A: Very little. Firstly, we are a very forgiving culture. Secondly, Woods’ remains revered by the players and virtually everyone around him. The captaincy is believed to be Woods’ if he wants it — as it was for 2025, when he opted not to take it. And, as usual, the world waits for Woods’ decision.
Q: Will Woods ever play again?
A: Absolutely. In fact, before this latest crash, Woods, who just turned 50, had just signed up to play in his first Senior Open, in July at Scioto, the course Jack Nicklaus grew up playing in Ohio.
Q: Speaking of Jack, will Woods, with 15 career major championships, ever catch Nicklaus’ record of 18?
A: Not a chance. Not at his age and not in his deteriorating physical condition. Woods last won a major at the 2019 Masters, and even that victory seemed like a bolt of lightning out of nowhere.
Q: Will Woods ever win again?
A: He’ll never win on the PGA Tour again. It’s possible he wins on the Champions Tour if he chooses to play on it and he’s able to get his physical issues under control. Champions Tour events are three rounds instead of four and the players are allowed to use carts, which is a big deal for Woods, because it’s the walking that hurts him more than the golf shots he takes.
Q: What does this latest incident do to Woods’ legacy?
A: For as great as Woods was as a player, these off-the-course issues will always be a part of his legacy. Woods will never be able to run away from his highly public infidelity scandal of 2009, nor these dangerous vehicular incidents. We’ve gotten to the point where the images of Woods’ police mug shots and smashed vehicles are catching up to those of him delivering those signature fist pumps, wearing red on Sundays and hoisting championship trophies.
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