Tiger Woods provided a grim health assessment on March 24, prompting substantial doubt about his ability to compete in the Masters, which starts April 9, uncertainty that has now been resolved by a DUI arrest and a declaration that he is leaving golf for an indefinite time.
Woods, 50, made his return at the TGL Finals in Florida on Tuesday, March 24, where his Jupiter Links GC squad was dominated 9-2 by the Los Angeles Golf Club. Woods displayed glimpses of his former prowess, hitting drives over 300 yards, but his comments following the match underscored the continued battle with injuries and a body that refuses to comply.
“We got our **** kicked at the end,” Woods admitted after the match. “Three eagles in a row, we didn’t respond.”
The 15-time major winner has endured a brutal series of health issues. He had L4-L5 disc replacement surgery in October, his seventh back procedure, and previously underwent surgery to fix a ruptured left Achilles tendon in March 2025. Woods has not competed on the PGA Tour since missing the cut at The Open Championship in July 2024, a period of over 600 days.
Woods was a last-minute addition to the Jupiter Links roster for Tuesday’s TGL Finals, teaming with Max Homa and Tom Kim in lieu of Kevin Kisner. Jupiter Links jumped to a 2-0 advantage early, helped by a superb approach from Woods on the second that created an early birdie. Following that encouraging beginning, the match collapsed.
On the signature “Stinger” hole, Woods struck a trademark low-drive, 318 yards down the fairway, that momentarily persuaded fans the old Tiger might be back. But on the par-3 seventh, he missed a critical three-foot putt and slammed his putter to the turf in frustration. Los Angeles then seized momentum, producing three straight eagles to close out the match before Woods could play his scheduled singles match versus Tommy Fleetwood.
Justin Rose delivered the decisive blow on the par-five 10th, hitting a 5-wood to about five feet. Jupiter Links conceded the eagle and the match immediately. Rose, who lost a playoff to Rory McIlroy at the 2025 Masters, helped Los Angeles Golf Club—also featuring Tommy Fleetwood and Sahith Theegala—secure the title with a match to spare in the best-of-three final.
Despite the one-sided result, Woods showed his swing can still produce high-caliber shots. His first full swing of the match was a 279-yard 3-wood that landed just off the green. “Welcome back, young man,” Homa told him after the shot. The TGL format, which has players hitting only certain shots instead of playing full rounds, made it harder for Woods to find continuity, but his raw power was evident.
The five-time Masters winner has been in a non-playing role with Jupiter Links during the 2026 TGL season while recovering from back surgery. His prior competitive outing was in early March 2025, also in the indoor team league he co-founded with McIlroy. Over the past five years, he has completed just four 72-hole tournaments and played only 11 official events since his near-fatal car crash in February 2021.
Any hope of a Masters appearance was shattered days later. On Friday, March 27, Woods was arrested for driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit a DUI test following a two-car crash near his Jupiter Island home — his second DUI arrest after a similar incident in May 2017. According to the Martin County Sheriff’s arrest affidavit, Woods said he was looking down at his cell phone when the crash occurred. Officers described the 50-year-old as “sweating profusely” with “lethargic and slow movements,” and found two white hydrocodone pills in his pants pocket. Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek confirmed no serious injuries, though he noted that Woods had to crawl out of his window following the collision.
On Tuesday, March 31, Woods announced he is stepping away from golf for an indefinite period to seek treatment and focus on his health. “I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” he said in a statement. “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 prioritize my well-being and work towards lasting recovery.” He entered a plea of not guilty in court earlier that day.
Augusta National Golf Club confirmed Woods will not compete in the Masters, which begins April 9. “Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament fully support Tiger Woods as he focuses on his well-being,” chairman Fred Ridley said in a statement. “Although Tiger will not be joining us in person next week, his presence will be felt here in Augusta.” PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp added: “My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step, for which he has my full respect and support.”
Woods was chasing history at Augusta. His five Masters wins leave him one shy of Jack Nicklaus’s record of six. Whether he will ever get the chance to pursue it now remains deeply uncertain.