With just over a week until the 2026 edition of The Masters, a giant Tiger-shaped cloud is looming over the tournament.
News of Tiger Woods’ arrest for alleged driving under the influence (DUI) in Jupiter, Florida has put his participation in the first major of the year in jeopardy.
It’s not clear if Woods, who was arrested last Friday, will be teeing off from Augusta National next Thursday. Regardless of if he does or doesn’t, it presents an obstacle for broadcaster CBS.
The question of whether or not the longtime television home of The Masters would address the elephant in the room was top of mind on a media conference call on Monday.
When asked how CBS would handle the subject of Woods, CBS Sports President and CEO David Berson admitted (via GolfDigest), ‘It’s obviously a big topic.’
‘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.
CBS Sports will generally avoid the topic of Tiger Woods’ arrest if he doesn’t play at The Masters next week following his DUI arrest (above: Trevor Immelman (L), Jim Nantz (R))
Woods stares down the lens in his police mugshot after being arrest for DUI on Friday afternoon
‘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.’
Berson made it clear that the company’s focus is on telling the story of the 2026 edition of the tournament. While they won’t completely ignore any news of the five-time Masters winner, if Woods does not compete, then he is not a part of that story.
‘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.’
An arrest affidavit seen by Daily Mail reveals the golf icon, 50, told police officers he was ‘looking down at this cell phone and changing the radio station’ before his rollover crash on Jupiter Island.
When officers searched Woods, they discovered two white pills inside the left pocket of his trousers. They were marked ‘M367’, which is hydrocodone and is used to treat severe or chronic pain. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioids are ‘addictive’.
Woods, who has battled addiction to painkillers in the past, was ‘sweating profusely’ after the incident and an officer noticed his movement was ‘lethargic and slow.’ He’s also said to have been battling hiccups throughout their investigation.
Woods reportedly had two hydrocodone pills in his pocket when he was arrested for DUI
Woods stands alongside his Range Rover SUV after clambering out of the passenger side
The 15-time major winner’s eyes were also said to be ‘bloodshot and glassy’ and his pupils were ‘extremely dilated’. When asked if he is currently taking any prescription medication, Woods replied: ‘I take a few’.
It comes after Daily Mail first reported that Woods’ refusal to provide a urine sample at the scene was likely because he had taken heavy doses of prescription opioids from his repeated injuries.
Our insider agreed that the golf icon, who only returned to golf action last week at the TGL finals after months of injury rehab, is not one for ‘illegal drugs’.
‘I know the guy, that’s just not what he does,’ the source revealed. ‘He has been on tons of pain medication for years.’
The golf legend was arrested after he attempted to overtake a truck and trailer at high speed before clipping it and tipping his own SUV onto its side.
Woods only recently returned to competition last week after recovering from back surgery
Woods, who has been involved in other crashes over the years, is charged with driving under the influence, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
The affidavit says Woods was ‘limping and stumbling’ during a field sobriety test. After completing a number of exercises, Woods was deemed unable to be driving his car.
He had been traveling at ‘high speeds’ on a residential road and after the crash showed ‘signs of impairment,’ Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said, adding that investigators believe he had taken some kind of medication or drug.
He described Woods as lethargic and said he agreed to a breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused a urine test and was arrested.
Woods only recently returned to competition following a back surgery last fall. He played in the second night of the TGL sim golf league finals last Tuesday. He has not competed for a full 18 holes since the 2024 Open Championship.
