Tiger Woods Absent from Masters Amid Recent Troubles

Fellow golfers Bubba Watson and Jason Day show support for Woods during tournament week

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:44am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented golf tournament scene with overlapping planes of green fairway, white sand traps, and tan clubhouse structures, conveying the disruption caused by Tiger Woods' absence from the event.Fellow golfers rally around Tiger Woods as his absence from the Masters tournament raises questions about his future in the sport.Augusta Today

The 2026 Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club has opened under a cloud, with the absence of five-time champion Tiger Woods impossible to ignore. Woods is not competing this year after a recent two-car rollover crash and DUI arrest, though he remains a central topic of conversation during the tournament.

Why it matters

Tiger Woods is one of the most iconic and successful golfers of all time, so his absence from the Masters is highly unusual and notable. His recent personal and legal troubles have raised concerns about his future in the sport, and the reactions of his fellow players provide insight into how the golf community is responding.

The details

While Woods passed a breathalyzer test at the scene of the crash, the incident and his DUI arrest have sparked ongoing questions about his well-being and ability to return to top-level competition. Fellow golfers like Bubba Watson and Jason Day have publicly expressed their support for Woods and a desire to see him back competing at majors soon.

  • The 2026 Masters tournament is taking place this week at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
  • Tiger Woods was involved in a two-car rollover crash and DUI arrest in recent weeks prior to the Masters.

The players

Tiger Woods

A legendary professional golfer who has won 5 Masters titles, though he is not competing in this year's tournament due to recent personal and legal troubles.

Bubba Watson

A professional golfer who has expressed public support for Tiger Woods and a desire to see him return to major championship competition.

Jason Day

A professional golfer who has also voiced support for Tiger Woods and hopes to see him back playing in majors soon.

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What they’re saying

“I could care less about Tiger's golf, I've always been in his ear. I told him I wanted to be here for his next major. I was here in '19,”

— Bubba Watson, Professional Golfer

The takeaway

Tiger Woods' absence from the 2026 Masters highlights the ongoing challenges he faces following his recent personal and legal troubles, though his fellow golfers continue to express support for his eventual return to major championship competition.