As part of the fallout from Tiger Woods’ car accident, the five-time Masters winner will not play next week’s 2026 Masters. While many observers and golf organizations have voiced their support for Woods, one Masters legend and former Masters TV commentator is taking a very different tack.
Three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo unloaded on Woods, criticizing him for the DUI crash he was charged with in a recent press conference.
But he didn’t stop there. Faldo also left the PGA Tour without holding Tiger accountable for his actions.
Nick Faldo criticizes Tiger Woods: ‘There has to be some accountability’
For much of this year, the golf world has been waiting to hear if Woods will return for the 2026 Masters. But now we know the answer.
On March 27, Woods was involved in a car accident near his home in Florida and was arrested and charged with DUI. Woods has denied the charges.
A few days later, Tiger announced that he would “leave” to seek treatment. The PGA Tour and the Masters announced their support for Woods and praised him for his tough decision.
But Faldo sees the situation differently. In a press conference this week reported by The Independent again The Timesamong other outlets, Faldo criticized both Woods and the organizations that have given their support to the 15-time major winner.
He called the PGA Tour’s reaction “predictably weak.”
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“There’s one side that’s like, ‘let’s take care of Tiger’… there has to be a side of responsibility and accountability,” Faldo said. “This is a serious thing he did, you know, the PGA Tour’s statement seemed very weak, the way they showed that the Tour will look after him like they always do, and then you get Jack. [Nicklaus] saying it spoiled the whole game. You have something against you but there should be accountability.”
He continued: “Our game is based on discipline. You govern yourself, you police yourself. I would think that the PGA Tour – behind closed doors – should be very embarrassed that they are paying Tiger tens of millions to be on the course and off the course with this corporate role that he has acquired.”
He saved some of his criticism for Tiger himself and said this is “a serious matter.”
“As a person knows, look at his community. “I think the world is a little different, but the important thing is, I think there is something … this is a serious issue.”
He expressed his sympathy for the fact that Woods is living in pain but also said that his injury was “self-inflicted.”
“I feel for Tiger because he lives in pain 24-7. I asked him that years ago, even before the LA accident. [in 2021]but everything was self-inflicted,” said Faldo.
“The bottom line is that I really think something more serious should be done than whisking him off to a tropical island and saying ‘Welcome back’ in three or four months.”
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Faldo said he believes Woods will be back in a few months without facing any consequences, which he explained would not happen to someone charged with DUI at other businesses.
“If you were charged with DUI a few times in your business, what would happen to you?” Faldo said. “I had a feeling, like I said, if he disappeared and came back after a few months, everything would go on as usual, and I’m not sure that’s right, it’s not a good message for kids today.”
Ultimately, Faldo said Woods “avoided accountability” because of “who he is.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to ask the official bodies to decide, but you would think that in normal life there would be accountability for doing that, wouldn’t you?” Faldo said. “I think he’s always been a special case, because of who he is and what he’s done, so I think he’s avoided that accountability.”
Faldo, who retired as CBS’ lead analyst after the 2022 season, is currently recovering from heart surgery he underwent earlier this year.
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