Will crash shake golf from its dependency on Woods?

Wednesday, 1 April 2026 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods’ latest fall from grace poses questions for the future running of men’s professional golf as well as the personal life of the 15-time major champion.

Such has been Woods’ standing in the game, his influence has grown with seniority despite a history of wayward driving stretching back almost two decades.

Never mind the multiple infidelities revealed after hitting a hydrant and tree (2009), a reckless driving conviction (2017) and a high-speed crash that miraculously involved no other vehicle (2021), Woods has been golf’s go-to guy.

On Friday, he flipped his Range Rover on a quiet residential street on Florida’s Jupiter Island and the world was treated to another dishevelled mugshot of one of sport’s most famous faces.

Charges of driving under the influence (despite passing a breathalyser test for alcohol), refusing a urine test and property damage will follow due process.

Meanwhile, we wait for a response from Woods and wonder if he will show up at Augusta for next week’s Masters. The odds are against.

And already observers are wondering whether this is the incident that should finally shake golf from its Tiger Woods dependency, because the sport has repeatedly seemed duty bound to turn to the 50-year-old to shape its future.

Augusta wanted a new public nine-hole golf course – The Loop. “Let’s get Tiger to design it”.

The PGA Tour sets up a committee to decide its future shape. “Let’s get Tiger to chair it”.

The US needs to win back the Ryder Cup. “Let’s get Tiger to be Captain America”. The list goes on.

Woods has been a player director on the PGA Tour Policy Board since August 2023 and vice-chairman of the PGA Tour Enterprises board for the past two years.

The tour also brought in a special rule to make Woods eligible for all of their big money Signature Events, even though the current world number 3,736 has completed all four rounds in only four tournaments since 2020.

His TMRW Sports company, in conjunction with Rory McIlroy, set up the TGL Indoor league, supported by the PGA Tour. Its second season concluded last Tuesday with a perspiring Woods making a TV ratings-boosting appearance in the finals.