Deadspin | Tiger Woods on players’ minds as Masters week begins Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links GC tees off during match against Los Angeles Golf Club during the TGL finals at SoFi Center on March 24, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods is not at Augusta National this week, but the five-time Masters champion is still very much on the minds of many of those in the 91-player field. Woods, 50, has reportedly checked into a treatment program outside of the United States following a car accident that led to his DUI arrest in Florida on March 27. He later announced that he would not be on hand for the 90th edition of the Masters this week and removed himself for consideration to be the United States Ryder Cup team captain for 2027 as he steps away from golf for an undetermined amount of time. Woods’ plane reportedly landed in Switzerland last week, days after his attorney told a Martin County Judge that his superstar client needed an “intensive, highly individualized and medically integrated program” away from media and public scrutiny. “It just shows the human element and the human side of someone that is struggling with some sort of an addiction,” Jason Day said after finishing his practice round at the Masters on Monday. “He’s not immune to it just because he can hit a golf ball really well. He’s had 25 to 30 something surgeries, and when you’re going through that many procedures, it’s painful coming out of those procedures. 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. “Granted, when I look at that, I look at it and go, he’s just a human being like everyone else and we have struggles. It’s unfortunate.” Woods pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of DUI after his SUV struck the back of a trailer being hauled by a truck near his home in Jupiter, Fla. Woods’ car flipped on its side, and he was charged with a moving violation of distracted driving. Officers found two while pills in the pocket of his pants, which authorities later confirmed to be hydrocodone. “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,” Day said. “But when you’re the player that he was and how strong-willed he is, he thinks he can do almost anything, and that’s probably why he’s probably driving and a little bit under the influence.” Woods had said during the TGL final three days before the accident that he was working toward trying to play in the Masters this week. And now his absence from Augusta National this week is at the forefront of the minds of those who have competed with Woods or grew up trying to emulate the 15-time major champion. “He was my hero — he is my hero,” Day said. “He was my hero growing up. The reason why I play golf is because of this tournament and Tiger. It’s hard to see him go through what he’s going through, and especially under the microscope that — it must be hard to be who he is and have everything, everyone look on, kind of down on him. “Some people want him to fail. Some people obviously want him to succeed. It’s really difficult for me to go through that and watch him, and I know that he’s getting the help now, which is good. I’m just hoping he comes out on the other side and is better.” Patrick Reed won the Masters in 2018, which means he will be at Tuesday night’s champions dinner that will not include Woods. Also missing will be Phil Mickelson, who is not at this year’s Masters while dealing with a personal medical situation. “Let’s be honest, without Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the events, in golf, when they both step away, honestly I feel it hurts the game of golf,” Reed said. “But at the same time, we want them to come back and be healthy and ready to go.” It has been 32 years since both Mickelson and Woods missed a Masters. The last time Woods missed the first major of the year was in 2021, when he was recovering from serious injuries suffered in another car accident in California. Woods told officers on March 27 that he has undergone more than 20 surgeries on his right leg, in addition to seven back surgeries and a torn Achilles tendon. Veteran PGA Tour player Harris English said it was “very strange” not to have Woods at Augusta National this week. “He’s such a legend in this game, somebody I looked up to,” English said. “Watching him win around this place in (19)97 is kind of the reason I started getting into golf. I know he’s going to get through this. He has a big fight ahead of him. He’s a fighter. That’s what he does. “He’s going to get through it and come out a better man and a better person. We hope to see him soon.” Jacob Bridgeman turned professional in 2022, so he doesn’t have nearly the personal experience playing alongside Woods that Day, Reed and English do. But he was another whose love for the game spawned in large part from watching Woods growing up. “I think everybody has a very soft heart for Tiger. He’s been the guy for our game that’s changed everything the most,” Bridgeman said. “He’s made these tournaments what they are, and he’s made the purses what they are just by his popularity. Everybody loved watching him. I grew up watching Tiger. He was my golf idol. “I think everybody is thinking about him and hoping he can do what’s best.” Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson was on hand for Woods’ most recent Masters victory in 2019. He said he pushed other previous champions to get to the 18th green to congratulate Woods, but that he “could care less about Tiger’s golf.” “Anybody that’s struggling with anything, I feel for him because I’ve went through a lot of mental stuff. So yeah, I always pull for him. “Nothing but love for him, and hopefully he can come back stronger.” –Derek Harper, Field Level Media #Deadspin #Tiger #Woods #players #minds #Masters #week #begins

I’ve seen the future of the NBA. It’s part Caitlin Clark, part Waymo and, of course, a heaping helping of IT.

There have been 30 NBA playoff games to date. And there have been – according to no better source than players on the losing team – 30 poorly officiated boat races.

Coincidence? Hardly.

For years, perimeter play in the NBA postseason has resembled that of the NFL, complete with the chucking, hand-fighting and illegal picking.

If you’re wondering why Stephen Curry shoots more 30-footers now than ever before, it’s because apparently bear-hugging is legal inside 25 feet. So what’s a little guy to do?

Clark has received this kind of hands-on treatment since Day 1 of her miserable WNBA life. She’s bumped endlessly attempting to dribble around screens and held constantly while simply trying to use picks to free herself without the ball.

To its credit, the WNBA has created (they don’t call it this, but let’s be honest) the “Clark Compromise” this season. If you watched the preseason games over the weekend, you undoubtedly heard the broadcasters complaining about it.

I applaud Cathy Engelbert, and that’s hard to do. The league has instructed its refs to clean up the perimeter mess – from the clutching and bumping of defenders preventing offensive players from legally utilizing screens, to the hip-checking and general bullying screen-setters routinely employ on undersized defenders.

The constant whistles made Saturday’s games hard to watch, as the broadcasters noted. But that’s missing the point.

The goal is to use otherwise meaningless exhibitions to make the fast-approaching regular-season openers more enjoyable to watch. You know, by actually calling fouls now so that players are hard-taught to play by the book by the time the finicky viewers start tuning in.

Imagine that, NBA.

The premier men’s league has half-heartedly attempted to take this type of approach in the past couple of seasons, and clearly it’s not working. Ask Curry. Ask Devin Booker. Ask anybody trying to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden or Jaylen Brown.

Let ‘em play has become the unofficial motto of the NBA postseason. And what has it given us?

In general: Less entertainment, poorer shooting opportunities, frustration, more extra-curriculars among players and an inordinate number of key injuries.

Specifically: There have been 30 playoff games so far. In those games, three of the 60 teams have been held under 90 points. That’s 5%. In the regular season, it was 1.7%.

Same with scores under 100. There have been 16 of them so far in the postseason (26.7%). In the regular season: 10.6%.

Sunday was the worst: More teams failed to reach triple figures than did. Number of watchable games: Zero.

That’s letting ‘em play. But play exactly what, I’m not sure.

In fact, with all the fouling that’s going uncalled, they’re not playing at all. They’re moshing.

It’s time to get with the times and take corrective steps. My solution is extreme – gee, imagine that – but when you’ve got people switching off a Thunder-Suns playoff game to watch Day 3 of the NFL draft, you’ve got problems.

The NBA needs to take a Waymo approach. You know, an implanted chip that tells the brain: All contact is bad. Avoid at all costs.

No, I’m not suggesting tattooing a sensor into every player’s forehead. Rather, a simple memory scan of each player’s arms – the major culprits in most of these so-called victimless crimes – so that when someone’s shoulder or elbow or forearm or hand simply touches an opponent, the referee gets buzzed and the actionless action is stopped.

Why? Because touching an opponent should be illegal. Think baseball. Not football.

As Waymo has taught us: All contact is bad.

And if cars can learn it, why can’t humans?

Then it’s IT’s turn.

Within one second, IT has the ability to study every available angle of a “collision” and make the determination: Which player caused this to happen?

Was it Brown pushing off Paul George in order to create space to get off a clean shot? Or was it George sticking a forearm into Brown’s back, stalling his initial move toward the hoop?

In today’s game, it doesn’t matter. More possessions than not resemble DK Metcalf and Carlton Davis wrestling inside the 5-yard, anything-goes NFL passing zone.

Only the NBA has no such thing.

Really. One second. That’s all it would take IT to point its virtual punitive finger.

And then guess what? Brown wouldn’t do it again. Or Harden. Or SGA.

That’s how you clean up and speed up the NBA game. Or at least start to do so.

Imagine an NBA rule in which you’re not allowed to touch your opponent. Yes, it’s hard to envision. But think about it for a minute.

Fifty years ago, when Lester Hayes was literally using stickum to latch onto wide receivers, who would have thought a hands-off rule would revolutionize football?

And that was back when the only IT was Isiah Thomas.

The NBA had hand-checking back then. Remember that thrill-killer?

That was banished and the game became great. But the problem has resurfaced, more so in the postseason than in the regular year, when it was a lesser issue because star players weren’t complaining. They were resting.

It’s time to get with the times, Commissioner Silver. Take the leap.

Thank you Caitlin Clark for saving the NBA.

#Technology #Fix #NBA #Officiating #Bold #Solution #Playoff #Issues #Deadspin.com">

Can Technology Fix NBA Officiating? A Bold Solution to Playoff Issues | Deadspin.com I’ve seen the future of the NBA. It’s part Caitlin Clark, part Waymo and, of course, a heaping helping of IT.There have been 30 NBA playoff games to date. And there have been – according to no better source than players on the losing team – 30 poorly officiated boat races.Coincidence? Hardly.For years, perimeter play in the NBA postseason has resembled that of the NFL, complete with the chucking, hand-fighting and illegal picking.If you’re wondering why Stephen Curry shoots more 30-footers now than ever before, it’s because apparently bear-hugging is legal inside 25 feet. So what’s a little guy to do?Clark has received this kind of hands-on treatment since Day 1 of her miserable WNBA life. She’s bumped endlessly attempting to dribble around screens and held constantly while simply trying to use picks to free herself without the ball.To its credit, the WNBA has created (they don’t call it this, but let’s be honest) the “Clark Compromise” this season. If you watched the preseason games over the weekend, you undoubtedly heard the broadcasters complaining about it.I applaud Cathy Engelbert, and that’s hard to do. The league has instructed its refs to clean up the perimeter mess – from the clutching and bumping of defenders preventing offensive players from legally utilizing screens, to the hip-checking and general bullying screen-setters routinely employ on undersized defenders.The constant whistles made Saturday’s games hard to watch, as the broadcasters noted. But that’s missing the point.The goal is to use otherwise meaningless exhibitions to make the fast-approaching regular-season openers more enjoyable to watch. You know, by actually calling fouls now so that players are hard-taught to play by the book by the time the finicky viewers start tuning in.Imagine that, NBA.The premier men’s league has half-heartedly attempted to take this type of approach in the past couple of seasons, and clearly it’s not working. Ask Curry. Ask Devin Booker. Ask anybody trying to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden or Jaylen Brown.Let ‘em play has become the unofficial motto of the NBA postseason. And what has it given us?In general: Less entertainment, poorer shooting opportunities, frustration, more extra-curriculars among players and an inordinate number of key injuries.Specifically: There have been 30 playoff games so far. In those games, three of the 60 teams have been held under 90 points. That’s 5%. In the regular season, it was 1.7%.Same with scores under 100. There have been 16 of them so far in the postseason (26.7%). In the regular season: 10.6%.Sunday was the worst: More teams failed to reach triple figures than did. Number of watchable games: Zero.That’s letting ‘em play. But play exactly what, I’m not sure.In fact, with all the fouling that’s going uncalled, they’re not playing at all. They’re moshing.It’s time to get with the times and take corrective steps. My solution is extreme – gee, imagine that – but when you’ve got people switching off a Thunder-Suns playoff game to watch Day 3 of the NFL draft, you’ve got problems.The NBA needs to take a Waymo approach. You know, an implanted chip that tells the brain: All contact is bad. Avoid at all costs.No, I’m not suggesting tattooing a sensor into every player’s forehead. Rather, a simple memory scan of each player’s arms – the major culprits in most of these so-called victimless crimes – so that when someone’s shoulder or elbow or forearm or hand simply touches an opponent, the referee gets buzzed and the actionless action is stopped.Why? Because touching an opponent should be illegal. Think baseball. Not football.As Waymo has taught us: All contact is bad.And if cars can learn it, why can’t humans?Then it’s IT’s turn.Within one second, IT has the ability to study every available angle of a “collision” and make the determination: Which player caused this to happen?Was it Brown pushing off Paul George in order to create space to get off a clean shot? Or was it George sticking a forearm into Brown’s back, stalling his initial move toward the hoop?In today’s game, it doesn’t matter. More possessions than not resemble DK Metcalf and Carlton Davis wrestling inside the 5-yard, anything-goes NFL passing zone.Only the NBA has no such thing.Really. One second. That’s all it would take IT to point its virtual punitive finger.And then guess what? Brown wouldn’t do it again. Or Harden. Or SGA.That’s how you clean up and speed up the NBA game. Or at least start to do so.Imagine an NBA rule in which you’re not allowed to touch your opponent. Yes, it’s hard to envision. But think about it for a minute.Fifty years ago, when Lester Hayes was literally using stickum to latch onto wide receivers, who would have thought a hands-off rule would revolutionize football?And that was back when the only IT was Isiah Thomas.The NBA had hand-checking back then. Remember that thrill-killer?That was banished and the game became great. But the problem has resurfaced, more so in the postseason than in the regular year, when it was a lesser issue because star players weren’t complaining. They were resting.It’s time to get with the times, Commissioner Silver. Take the leap.Thank you Caitlin Clark for saving the NBA. #Technology #Fix #NBA #Officiating #Bold #Solution #Playoff #Issues #Deadspin.com

mwasimuddin125 0

I’ve seen the future of the NBA. It’s part Caitlin Clark, part Waymo and, of course, a heaping helping of IT.
There have been 30 NBA playoff games to date. And there have been – according to no better source than players on the losing team – 30 poorly officiated boat races.
Coincidence? Hardly.
For years, perimeter play in the NBA postseason has resembled that of the NFL, complete with the chucking, hand-fighting and illegal picking.
If you’re wondering why Stephen Curry shoots more 30-footers now than ever before, it’s because apparently bear-hugging is legal inside 25 feet. So what’s a little guy to do?
Clark has received this kind of hands-on treatment since Day 1 of her miserable WNBA life. She’s bumped endlessly attempting to dribble around screens and held constantly while simply trying to use picks to free herself without the ball.
To its credit, the WNBA has created (they don’t call it this, but let’s be honest) the “Clark Compromise” this season. If you watched the preseason games over the weekend, you undoubtedly heard the broadcasters complaining about it.
I applaud Cathy Engelbert, and that’s hard to do. The league has instructed its refs to clean up the perimeter mess – from the clutching and bumping of defenders preventing offensive players from legally utilizing screens, to the hip-checking and general bullying screen-setters routinely employ on undersized defenders.
The constant whistles made Saturday’s games hard to watch, as the broadcasters noted. But that’s missing the point.
The goal is to use otherwise meaningless exhibitions to make the fast-approaching regular-season openers more enjoyable to watch. You know, by actually calling fouls now so that players are hard-taught to play by the book by the time the finicky viewers start tuning in.
Imagine that, NBA.
The premier men’s league has half-heartedly attempted to take this type of approach in the past couple of seasons, and clearly it’s not working. Ask Curry. Ask Devin Booker. Ask anybody trying to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden or Jaylen Brown.
Let ‘em play has become the unofficial motto of the NBA postseason. And what has it given us?
In general: Less entertainment, poorer shooting opportunities, frustration, more extra-curriculars among players and an inordinate number of key injuries.
Specifically: There have been 30 playoff games so far. In those games, three of the 60 teams have been held under 90 points. That’s 5%. In the regular season, it was 1.7%.
Same with scores under 100. There have been 16 of them so far in the postseason (26.7%). In the regular season: 10.6%.
Sunday was the worst: More teams failed to reach triple figures than did. Number of watchable games: Zero.
That’s letting ‘em play. But play exactly what, I’m not sure.
In fact, with all the fouling that’s going uncalled, they’re not playing at all. They’re moshing.
It’s time to get with the times and take corrective steps. My solution is extreme – gee, imagine that – but when you’ve got people switching off a Thunder-Suns playoff game to watch Day 3 of the NFL draft, you’ve got problems.
The NBA needs to take a Waymo approach. You know, an implanted chip that tells the brain: All contact is bad. Avoid at all costs.
No, I’m not suggesting tattooing a sensor into every player’s forehead. Rather, a simple memory scan of each player’s arms – the major culprits in most of these so-called victimless crimes – so that when someone’s shoulder or elbow or forearm or hand simply touches an opponent, the referee gets buzzed and the actionless action is stopped.
Why? Because touching an opponent should be illegal. Think baseball. Not football.
As Waymo has taught us: All contact is bad.
And if cars can learn it, why can’t humans?
Then it’s IT’s turn.
Within one second, IT has the ability to study every available angle of a “collision” and make the determination: Which player caused this to happen?
Was it Brown pushing off Paul George in order to create space to get off a clean shot? Or was it George sticking a forearm into Brown’s back, stalling his initial move toward the hoop?
In today’s game, it doesn’t matter. More possessions than not resemble DK Metcalf and Carlton Davis wrestling inside the 5-yard, anything-goes NFL passing zone.
Only the NBA has no such thing.
Really. One second. That’s all it would take IT to point its virtual punitive finger.
And then guess what? Brown wouldn’t do it again. Or Harden. Or SGA.
That’s how you clean up and speed up the NBA game. Or at least start to do so.
Imagine an NBA rule in which you’re not allowed to touch your opponent. Yes, it’s hard to envision. But think about it for a minute.
Fifty years ago, when Lester Hayes was literally using stickum to latch onto wide receivers, who would have thought a hands-off rule would revolutionize football?
And that was back when the only IT was Isiah Thomas.
The NBA had hand-checking back then. Remember that thrill-killer?
That was banished and the game became great. But the problem has resurfaced, more so in the postseason than in the regular year, when it was a lesser issue because star players weren’t complaining. They were resting.
It’s time to get with the times, Commissioner Silver. Take the leap.
Thank you Caitlin Clark for saving the NBA.

#Technology #Fix #NBA #Officiating #Bold #Solution #Playoff #Issues #Deadspin.com">Can Technology Fix NBA Officiating? A Bold Solution to Playoff Issues | Deadspin.com