'Only concern': Tiger Woods' potential Masters appearance loses significance for concerned duo

Woods had spoken last week after making his comeback in the TGL final in Florida about how he was keen to be teeing up at Augusta National due to the fact he had “loved being there since I was 19” and how it was a venue that “meant a lot to me and my family over the years”.

Three days later, though, the 15-time major winner found himself involved in his fourth car accident, leading him to be arrested and charged with driving under the influence, as well as property damage and refusal to submit a lawful test after declining to submit a urine sample.

A police report released on Tuesday has revealed that Woods had two hydrocodone pills, which are used to treat pain, in his pocket and his eyes were bloodshot when he was interviewed at the scene.

The incident report released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office also stated that the 15-time major winner had been observed by officers at the scene as lethargic, slow and “sweating profusely”.

The report stated as well that Woods had told officers that he had been looking at his mobile phone and adjusting the radio when he clipped a truck in front of him, causing his Range Rover to flip on his side.

On a media conference call on Tuesday arranged by ESPN ahead of the Masters, The Scotsman asked both Scott Van Pelt, who will be anchoring the station’s coverage at Augusta National, and two-time US Open champion Curtis Strange to share their thoughts on the latest in a long line of mishaps for Woods.

‘Whatever needs to happen, I hope it does’

“A week ago, I was down at TGL in SoFi and Tiger and Rory [McIlroy] were so instrumental in creating that next sort of incarnation of golf and we got to see Tiger playing,” said Van Pelt. “And whatever people view that as, he’s got a club in his hand and they are competing and there is an excitement. Man, maybe we’ll see him next week.

“I have to be honest, after what happened I don’t care if I see him next week as much as I care that the human being I have known all these years is well and whatever needs to happen, I hope it does.

“He’s gone through a significant loss in the last year and a half of his mum (Tilda died last February). He’s gone through a vicious cycle of injury and rehab and the toll that takes. This is another accident. You don’t want him to get hurt; you don’t want others to get hurt.

“I don’t know how close and how tight that circle is around Tiger, but I just hope that whoever is close enough to him to have what conversation needs to be had about whatever help might be needed, I hope that is had and I hope it resonates.

“Because truly, as much fun as it has been to watch Tiger over the years, I’ve gotten to know the man as a human being and I care about the man as a human being. And that’s really my only concern at this point. The rest is the rest. The golf is the golf. That, to me, isn’t as important as the human that I’ve gotten to know.”

Though, surprisingly, it wasn’t one of the first questions posed to the pair, Strange admitted he knew it had been coming. “I thought this would come up and I’ve thought for a couple of days on how to answer the question and I don’t really still know right now what to say,” admitted the man who is now ESPN’s lead golf analyst.

“You know, he still has a lot to offer the game,” added Strange, who was the US captain when Woods played in the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry. “And just by being out there he offers a great deal. We wish him well. You hate to see anybody in a situation that it’s tough and a struggle. He’s proven to be a strong man and we hope he comes through this.”

The latest car crash involving the 50-year-old came as he was weighing up the possibility of playing in next week’s Masters, which now seems very unlikely. Woods is due to open a new nine-hole par-3 course called The Loop as part of a grand re-opening of The Patch, the municipal course in Augusta, during the season’s first major. However, the likelihood of that happening now appears to be slim due to Woods having once again put himself in the spotlight for a wrong reason.

In a phone interview with the New York Post, US President and golf fanatic Donald Trump provided an update on Woods, who has not yet spoken publicly about the accident, having been lucky to be alive from a previous one in Los Angeles.

‘He lives a life of pain’

“I have (spoken with him),” said Trump. “I think he’s doing great, he’s doing good. He tested negative for alcohol, as you know, and he is under a tremendous physical pressure from his various ailments, you know, the back and the leg.

“He lives a life of pain. He has a lot of pain. He’s an amazing guy. He’s an amazing athlete. He does have pain. He doesn’t have an alcohol problem, but he does have pain.”

Woods can leave it as late as he feels is necessary about playing at Augusta National, where he capped one of the greatest comebacks in sport by claiming a fifth Green Jacket in 2019.

“He’s Tiger Woods,” declared Van Pelt on the ESPN call. “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 will be covered. But my sense is that we will have more information which is vital and critical for us to discuss what we think is going on as opposed to guessing.”