ESPN star Scott van Pelt insisted that Tiger Woods’ recovery is of far greater importance than his presence at The Masters after the golf legend revealed he is seeking help amid his latest scandal.
Any speculation surrounding a potential comeback for Woods at The Masters next week was firmly shut down on Tuesday when he announced that he would be taking time away to receive treatment.
The announcement came after the 50-year-old was arrested last Friday for DUI in Jupiter, Florida following yet another car crash.
Van Pelt, who has served as a lead host for ESPN’s Masters coverage for years, admitted on Tuesday that there would always be an ‘excitement’ around the possibility of Woods competing at the major championship.
However, he insisted that, despite the furor Woods brings to any event he tees it up at, he hoped that the golf legend first seeks the help he needs.
The SportsCenter host pointed to the toll the past few years must have taken on Woods, especially the loss of his mother, Kultida, whom the golf legend had described as his ‘rock,’ early last year.
A humiliated Tiger Woods stares down the lens for his mugshot after being arrested for DUI
ESPN star Scott Van Pelt urged the golf legend to seek help ahead of The Masters
‘I have to be honest, after what happened, I don’t care if I see him next week,’ he said while discussing the network’s coverage plans for The Masters with reporters, shortly before Woods’ announcement.
‘I care that the human being I’ve known for all these years is well. Whatever needs to happen, I hope it does.
‘He’s gone through a significant loss in the last year and a half of his mom. He’s going through a vicious cycle of injury and rehab and the toll that that takes. And, this is another accident. You don’t want him to get hurt. You don’t want others to get hurt.
‘I hope that whoever is close enough to him to have whatever conversation needs to be had about whatever help might be needed, that that is had. I hope that it resonates.
‘Because truly, as much fun as it is to have watched Tiger play through the years, I’ve gotten to know the man as a human being, and I care about him as a human being, and that’s really my only concern at this point.’
Van Pelt was speaking during a conference call to unveil ESPN’s coverage plans for The Masters and the subject of how the network would address Woods’ scandal was raised.
The longtime beloved broadcaster shared that he hopes more information surrounding the car accident will emerge before the players take to the undulating fairways of Augusta next week in order to have informed conversations.
‘My sense is between now and a week from now, hopefully we know more,’ Van Pelt said.
‘Ultimately, I think where his head is and what his plan is are far more important than what we think it ought to be.
The 15-time major winner lost his mother, Kultida, who he described as his ‘rock,’ in early 2025
Van Pelt admitted that there is a chance that Woods could make an appearance at Augusta
‘He’s Tiger Woods – there’s been a saying for years, he doesn’t move the needle. He is the needle. His presence or absence is certainly a storyline that’ll be covered.
‘But as I say, my sense is that we’ll have more information, which is really vital and critical for us to discuss what we think is going on, as opposed to guessing.’
On Friday, the golf world was thrown into disarray when Tiger Woods flipped his Range Rover SUV onto its side in a high-speed crash on the millionaire’s playground of Jupiter Island, Florida, resulting in yet another DUI arrest.
After clambering out of the passenger side window of his vehicle, Woods refused to give a urine sample to cops and was arrested for DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
Woods broke his silence on Tuesday, sharing that he would be stepping away to seek treatment – nine years after he completed a private program to address his dependency on painkillers.
‘I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,’ Woods wrote 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 toward lasting recovery.
‘I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.’
Woods’ life turned upside down with his car when he was involved in a high-speed crash
Woods is driven home from jail after being bailed out by a friend late on Friday night
Earlier in the day, he entered a plea of not guilty for his latest DUI, hiring cut-throat attorney Douglas Duncan to represent him.
Duncan also fought Woods’ legal battles in 2017 when the golfing icon faced similar DUI charges.
This was not Woods’s first issue behind the wheel. He was arrested for another DUI in 2017 after police found him slumped in his car in Florida with five drugs in his system, including two painkillers.
Woods was later involved in a similar crash in 2021 in California, which shattered his right leg after he was trapped under the vehicle. He needed multiple surgeries in order to recover from his injuries.
He also crashed into a fire hydrant in November 2009 as he tried to flee his Florida home after wife Elin Nordegren discovered he had been having an affair. It sparked an unraveling of his reputation that he has never truly recovered from.
