United States Golf Association (USGA) CEO Mike Whan states he would be “super surprised” to see Tiger Woods in the field at the U.S. Open or U.S. Senior Open this year.
According to reports, the 50-year-old is currently receiving treatment in Switzerland following a collision with a trailer on a residential road in Jupiter Island, Florida in March which saw him arrested on DUI charges.
At the time of the arrest, law enforcement officials found two pills which were later confirmed to be prescription opioid hydrocodone pills.
In a public statement days after the incident, Woods said he would be “stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health.”
“I’d be super surprised,” Whan told Sports Illustrated, when asked if the 15-time major winner would feature.
“Obviously, what he’s going through is much bigger than golf. He’s proven before that when he puts his mind to something, he’s going to be great at it. I’m sure he has a lot of years to play USGA championships.
“I don’t think he’s going to play in any 2026 USGA championship. If he ends up playing in USGA championships, great. But when I think of Tiger, my friend, that’s not really what’s important to me right now.”
Woods has completed 11 tournaments in the five years since his 2021 car crash, the latest being the 2024 Open Championship. In the four times he completed 72 holes, he finished no closer than 16 shots from the winner. Across these years, he has been heavily hampered with injuries, the most recent being a collapsed disc in his spine.