Trump predicts Tiger Woods ‘wouldn’t be playing in 2026 Masters’ a day before crash

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump made a striking remark about professional golfer Tiger Woods’ participation in the 2026 Masters tournament just hours before he was involved in a rollover car crash on Friday, March 27.

The comment, delivered during a March 26 appearance on Fox News, has drawn attention following the sequence of events that unfolded the next day. Woods’ accident and subsequent developments have raised fresh uncertainty about his competitive future.

Trump predicts Tiger Woods won’t play and reacts after rollover crash

During a call-in appearance on Fox News’ The Five, Trump stated, “I love Tiger, but he won't be there.” He clarified his remark, adding, “He'll be there, but he won't be playing in it.” The following day, Woods was involved in a car accident near his residence on Jupiter Island, Florida.

Woods was arrested by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office for driving while impaired. Although he passed a breathalyzer test, he refused to undergo a urine test. He was alone in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

Reacting to the incident, Trump said, “I feel so bad... He's got some difficulty. There's an accident, and that's all I know.” He further described Woods as “a really close friend of mine, an amazing person, an amazing man,” while again noting that the golfer has “some difficulty.”

Woods has previously battled addiction and sought treatment for dependence on the painkiller Vicodin and other prescription drugs. During the same Fox News appearance, Trump was asked who he would support at the Masters if Woods did not play.

He responded, “They're just great players. It's hard for me. If I pick somebody, I'm going to have enemies, I'm going to have 10 guys who won't speak to me.”

Tiger Woods’ injuries, career uncertainty, and personal life

Woods had been aiming to compete in the season’s first major tournament after months of rehabilitation following a ruptured Achilles tendon. He made his post-injury debut at the TGL finals on March 24 and expressed hope about returning to the Masters, scheduled to begin on April 9.

However, he acknowledged the challenges of recovery, stating, “I've been trying. This body just doesn’t recover like it did when I was 24 or 25.” He added, “I want to play. I love the tournament. I have loved being there since I was 19 years old. I'm going to be there either way,” confirming his intention to attend Augusta even if not competing.

The Masters has been one of Woods’ most successful tournaments, where he secured victories in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2019. His recent Achilles injury occurred in March 2025 while training at home, followed by surgery and extended physical therapy.

The latest accident was less severe than his February 2021 rollover crash in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, where he sustained multiple leg and ankle injuries and required extraction from the vehicle by firefighters.

He was hospitalized for three weeks and later revealed there had been a 50–50 chance of amputation of part of his right leg, stating, “I'm lucky to be alive and also have a limb.” Beyond his professional challenges, Woods’ personal life has also drawn attention.

He has been dating Vanessa, the former wife of Donald Trump Jr., since late 2024. The relationship has extended into family ties, with Woods mentoring her daughter, Kai Trump, in golf. His guidance has contributed to her securing a golf scholarship to the University of Miami ahead of her high school graduation.