Jason Day, the Australian former world number one, has described Tiger Woods’ decision to drive while under the influence as a “selfish” act that endangered others, offering a nuanced critique of his childhood hero as Woods faces fresh legal and personal turmoil.
The criticism: A selfish act that put others in danger
Speaking at Augusta National, where Woods is a conspicuous absentee from the Masters for a second consecutive year, Day did not mince his words about the incident that led to the golf legend’s arrest. “The only thing that I don’t understand is that it’s a little bit selfish of him to drive and put other people in harm’s way, as well,” said the 2015 PGA Championship winner.
Woods was arrested on 27 March 2026 by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department after crashing his black Land Rover SUV on Jupiter Island, Florida. According to the sheriff’s department report, he attempted to pass a pickup truck pulling a trailer on a two-lane road, clipping the trailer and causing his own vehicle to roll onto its side. Woods stated to investigators that he was looking at his cell phone and changing the radio station and did not notice the truck slowing to turn.
The legal ramifications are significant. Woods was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful urine test, both misdemeanours. A breathalyzer test showed zero alcohol, but deputies found two pills identified as hydrocodone, a potent opioid painkiller, in his pocket. The sheriff’s report indicated five different drugs in his system. Officers noted he was “sweating profusely,” “limping and stumbling,” with “bloodshot and glassy” eyes and dilated pupils.
This is not Woods’ first such offence; he was arrested for a DUI in May 2017 in Jupiter, pleading guilty to reckless driving after being found asleep at the wheel, which he attributed to a bad mix of prescription medications.
The empathy: A human struggle with addiction and isolation
Alongside his criticism, Day expressed profound sadness and understanding for Woods’s plight, framing it as a stark display of human vulnerability. “It just shows the human element and the human side of someone that is struggling with some sort of an addiction,” Day said. “He’s not immune to it just because he can hit a golf ball really well.”
Day, who has endured his own series of back surgeries, drew a parallel to the dangers of pain management. “I’ve had procedures done and I typically try and stay away from all that stuff because I just know that … painkillers, there can potentially be a downfall to it.” Woods’s history of injuries is extensive, including over 20 operations on his leg—severely injured in a 2021 car crash—and at least seven back surgeries.
The Australian also pointed to the intense isolation of Woods’s life as a factor. “It must be tough to be isolated the way he is normally. He stays at home pretty much most of the time, doesn’t really get out too much just because of how popular he is as a person,” Day observed. “Sometimes you don’t have people around, loving people around enough to be able to steer you in the direction that you need to.”
Following the arrest, Woods announced he was stepping away to “seek treatment and focus on my health”. His private jet was reportedly spotted in Zurich, Switzerland, a location known for exclusive treatment facilities. A judge has granted him permission to travel outside the US for recovery due to privacy concerns, while he has entered a plea of not guilty to the DUI charge and requested a jury trial, with an arraignment scheduled for 23 April.
Golf misses its defining figure
For Day, who cited Woods and the Masters as his reason for taking up golf, the absence is deeply felt. “He was my hero – he is my hero. He was my hero growing up,” Day said. “It’s hard to see him go through what he’s going through, and especially under the microscope.”
The tournament itself is diminished without the presence of the sport’s most transformative player. Woods, a five-time Masters champion with 15 major titles in total—second only to Jack Nicklaus—is missing the season’s first major for the second year running, having missed the 2025 event due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
“Golf misses him. We miss him here this week,” Day concluded. “It’s always better when he’s playing golf tournaments because we love having him around.” Despite the disappointment, Day expressed hope that Woods would emerge from treatment stronger, stating, “He’s human and we all make mistakes. That’s just part of learning and getting better, and I’m hoping that he gets the help that he needs.”
