Tiger Woods’ U.S. Open availability gets honest outlook ahead of second Switzerland trip

Tiger Woods has reportedly returned to Switzerland to resume his rehab.

The 15-time major winner initially checked into the facility in early April following his arrest in March.

AFP

This came after Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence following a rollover car crash in Florida.

Woods swerved to avoid crashing into a truck while overtaking at high speed in a 30mph area and crawled out of the passenger seat after his SUV was turned on its side.

Police officers at the scene noticed signs of impairment and Woods explained his injury situation, having spent a year recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon and more recently spine surgery.

As his recovery continues TMZ are reporting that an aircraft left Florida on Saturday night and arrived in a European country on Sunday.

It is now assumed the 15-time major champion returned home to support his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, who revealed on Monday that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. 

The 50-year-old has been in a relationship with the 48-year-old former model for more than a year.

She shared a heartfelt message on social media, calling Woods her “strength” as she deals with her health battle.

“Tiger has been very supportive of Vanessa through all of this and is really just focused on being there for her,” a source told the New York Post.

“He’s proud of how positive she’s stayed and how she’s handling everything so far.

“She’s been so strong and he truly believes she’s going to be OK. He’s just trying to support her however he can right now.”

AFP

Getty

Woods appearance at 2026 U.S. Open would be ‘surprising’

It has been almost two years since Woods played in a competitive event, missing the cut at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.

His accident earlier this year came just ahead of the Masters, which he has now missed for the last two years after a making the cut and finishing in a tie for 60th in 2024.

The few who may have been holding out hope that the golfing legend could tee it up in the U.S. Open on Father’s Day weekend in late June are not going to like the latest comments from USGA CEO Mike Whan.

The tournament at Shinnecock Hills in New York gets underway on June 18, but don’t expect to see Woods in the field.

“I’d be super surprised,” Whan told Sports Illustrated.

“It would be wonderful for the event, and if he was ready, it would be wonderful for him.

Getty

“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.”

Whan’s note about Woods not playing in any USGA championship is relevant, as 2026 marks the first year he can tee up in the U.S. Senior Open, which begins in July.

Stay up to date with Golf across all our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET