Golf influencer Paige Spiranac shared some encouraging words for Tiger Woods, who announced this week he would be stepping away from golf to “seek treatment” after his DUI arrest in Jupiter Island, Florida Friday. 

Spiranac reacted on social media after seeing Woods’ statement and the whole situation unfold after his rollover car crash. 

“I think we are all rooting for Tiger,” she posted on X. “Not as a golfer but more importantly as a person. None of us can fathom what he’s been through both emotionally and physically. 

“Not excusing any behavior, but I hope he’s able to get the help he needs in peace without the whole world dog piling on him in a very difficult situation.”

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Paige Spiranac hits a tee shot during The Creator Classic prior to the Truist Championship at The Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon Course) May 7, 2025, in Flourtown, Philadelphia.   (Tracy Wilcox/PGA Tour via Getty Images)

Woods entered a not guilty plea in court Tuesday, waiving his right to an arraignment and demanding a trial with a jury. He later released the statement, saying he would seek treatment and focus on his health. 

“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods said in the statement posted on social media. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery. 

AUGUSTA NATIONAL CHAIRMAN REVEALS TIGER WOODS’ MASTERS STATUS AFTER DUI ARREST

“I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”

Woods’ attorney, Douglas N. Duncan, did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Fox News Digital. 

Tiger Woods was arrested on a DUI charge after a crash in Florida March 27, 2006. (AP/Martin County Sheriff’s Office)

Woods was arrested in Florida, and prescription opioids were found in his pocket after he was involved in a rollover crash Friday, according to court documents.

The 15-time major winner was arrested on charges of driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a blood alcohol level (BAL) test after law enforcement said his vehicle collided with another while driving impaired.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital, deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office reported observing several signs of impairment after the crash. They noted Woods was “sweating profusely,” his movements appeared “lethargic and slow” and his eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” as well as “extremely dilated” after removing his sunglasses. Woods admitted to being distracted before the crash. 

“Woods stated he was looking down at his cell phone and changing the radio station and did not notice the vehicle in front of him slowing down,” deputies wrote in the affidavit. 

Golfer Tiger Woods stands by his overturned vehicle in Jupiter Island, Fla., Friday, March 27, 2026.  (Jason Oteri/AP)

After Woods was placed under arrest, authorities found “two white pills inside Woods’ left side pant pocket,” which were later identified as hydrocodone, a prescription pain relief opioid.

This marks the second DUI arrest for Woods in the last decade. He was also taken into custody on Jupiter Island in 2017 after being asleep behind the wheel of a running vehicle at 3 a.m. after taking prescription drugs. 

Woods was also involved in a 2021 rollover crash that resulted in serious leg injuries and emergency surgeries, which is what he was alluding to during the field sobriety tests. 

Woods just returned to The Golf League earlier this month for his first round of competition since undergoing more surgeries on his back while also needing to repair a torn Achilles. 

Paige Spiranac plays the 17th green during the Creator Classic at Philly Cricket Club prior to the Truist Championship at The Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon Course) May 7, 2025, in Flourtown Philadelphia.  (Ben Jared/PGA Tour via Getty Images)

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While Woods was reportedly trying to get in shape to play in the Masters Tournament, his statement confirmed he won’t be participating in this year’s field. Woods also signed up for the U.S. Senior Open, according to TGL teammate Kevin Kisner, which is scheduled for early July. 

Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley also confirmed Woods will not be at The Masters next week.

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In Minnesota, Tom Pelissero is ol’ faithful. The national insider has plenty of connections to the Minnesota Vikings, making him uniquely-qualified among league-level voices to weigh-in on the QB pecking order.

Pelissero chatted with Tatum Everett, who works for the Vikings Entertainment Network. The reporter for The NFL Network described the team’s reluctance to move through another year without ample passer depth given the injury turmoil that undermined 2023 and 2025. Afterwards, there’s the clincher: “They love Carson Wentz, he’s coming in, I think it’s pretty clear as QB3. It’s going to be J.J. McCarthy versus Kyler Murray.”

Tom Pelissero Clarifies QB Depth Chart

Dustin Baker wrote about the issue yesterday, describing Kevin O’Connell’s assessment of Wentz being valued depth.

What needs to be remembered is that Minnesota was undermined last year due the QB position having both a low ceiling and a low floor. As a result, the decision was to onboard passers who could elevate both areas. Murray is someone to raise the ceiling as a high-upside option; Wentz is in town to solidify the floor as a low-maintenance option.

Sitting between those two is J.J. McCarthy, the 23-year-old quarterback who got chosen at No. 10 in the 2024 NFL Draft (a lifetime ago).

Pretty consistently, Kevin O’Connell and Rob Brzezinski have clarified that the desire is alive and well: the franchise wants the Michigan passer to be the long-term starter. No team, short of the truly foolish squads, gives up on a young arm so quickly, especially when there hasn’t been any nefarious off-field issues to demand a divorce.

Moreover, so much of what has hindered McCarthy has been plain old bad luck. Getting and staying healthy could be the key.

The other part of the equation is the competition that’s taking place, something that Tom Pelissero circles around to in his answer. Not only is there a clarification about Wentz coming in at 3rd within the hierarchy, but Pelissero goes on to describe the situation as “a real competition,” a conclusion he has arrived at “based on everything that I’ve been told.”

If the only criteria is who is the best quarterback at this precise moment, then Kyler Murray is a near certainty to start. What gets missed in that too-simple criteria is that J.J. McCarthy is improving.

If Murray takes a step forward, then McCarthy needs to take two or three steps forward within the same timeline. Do that enough times and the sizable QB chasm that exists on April 1st could get shrunk down in time for September 1st.

The young fella was out in California working with a private quarterback coach, continuing on his pilgrimage toward airtight mechanics. He’s now in the Twin Cities, building up his body with the Vikings’ staff at TCO Performance Center. Being healthy, owning good technique, and getting into the best shape of his life, McCarthy could very well become a very good passer.

Based on who offers the most upside over a long-term time horizon, J.J. McCarthy is the clear answer. He is younger, has better size, and has a contract that’s much easier to manage over the next several years. So, too, did he demand a far more expensive form of investment from the team.

At the end of the day, there’s training camp and the preseason for a reason. The competition is already underway no matter how much O’Connell tries to say that May and June are about class on the grass (mastering the scheme). Evaluation is a constant in the NFL, but O’Connell is correct that July and August are going to be what matter most as it relates to who starts in Week 1.

Guessing who comes out on top is precisely that: a guess.

What isn’t uncertain is whether Carson Wentz is now being looked at as a legitimate challenger for the QB1 job. That’s simply not the case. Rather, he’s a low-maintenance QB3, somebody who can help the team win without demanding much of a workload leading up to games. Something funky could happen that’s totally unforeseen, creating the conditions for Wentz to be the starter, but that’s going to take an anvil or grand piano falling from the sky.

In late July, Kyler Murray will be looking to hold off J.J. McCarthy within a two-horse race. Stay tuned.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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Cal kicked off Spring practice a few weeks ago and the Bears always do a good job getting recruits up to campus. They’re hosting a handful of top players later today.

Cal and new head coach Tosh Lupoi have created a ton of early buzz this recruiting cycle and we expect them to sign their best recruiting class in a decade. Players have been flocking to campus from all over the region and the Bears will have four top players visiting today.

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– Kingston Celifie is a Rivals.com four-star and the No. 40 wide out in the country. He’s a speed guy with a track background and had personal bests of 10.57-100m and 21.46-200m as a freshman but re-aggravated an ankle injury early in the track season last Spring and wasn’t able to finish out his season. He has an official visit set with Cal for June 12 and this one is shaping up to be an in-state battle between the Bears and UCLA.

– Bayon Harris is another receiver we like a lot and he put up video game numbers last season. Harris caught 86 passes for 1,770 yards and 26 touchdowns and is that tall, 6-foot-3 wide out with a huge catch radius quarterbacks love to have on their side. The Bears have yet to offer but are recruiting him. Arizona State and UCLA are probably the teams to beat right now.

– Josh Bunni is one of the better stories out West. The massive tackle from New Zealand grew up playing rugby and has yet to play a high school football game but has double digit scholarship offers right now. Cal is high on the list and Bunni had a great time at the Bears Junior Day earlier this year. An official visit is in the works as well and the Bears look like the team to beat at this time.

– Jay Rawls just moved from Georgia to Arizona three weeks ago and is a player we liked a lot at the Under Armour Next Camp in Hawaii last year. He’s a long, rangy pass catcher who moves really well. Cal was his first Power 4 offer, offering in late February and Utah has since jumped in as well. Rawls has intriguing size and athleticism, pushing 6-foot-6 and is just tapping in to his immense potential as a outside receiver who should cause havoc in the red zone.

Manchester United fall just short of reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League after conceding two late goals in the second leg of their quarter-final against Bayern Munich, with the German side winning 2-1 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate.

MATCH REPORT: Bayern Munich x-x Manchester United

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The NCAA Division I Cabinet approved emergency legislation Wednesday designed to stop programs from signing players who circumvent the transfer portal, but the coaches, general managers and attorneys who know the issue best are divided on whether the rules will hold.

As with most issues regarding player eligibility and movement in college sports, challenges may loom in the courtroom next fall.

The legislation approved Wednesday imposes severe penalties on programs that accept players who transfer without entering the portal: a half-season suspension for the head coach from all coaching, recruiting and administrative duties, and a fine equal to 20% of the school’s football budget. 

“I am grateful the DI Cabinet approved the FBS Oversight Committee’s recommendation to impose significant penalties on head coaches and programs who circumvent transfer rules, along with immediate accountability,” Vanderbilt coach Clark said in a statement released by the NCAA. “This is a necessary step to address a critical roster management issue facing our sport and to protect the integrity of football’s transfer window.”

The idea behind the emergency legislation stemmed from the elimination of a second portal window in April, and rising fear that players would ignore the rules, unenroll from schools and go elsewhere after spring practices.

“It’s going to add legal chaos,” an AAC head coach told CBS Sports, “But it will keep rosters mostly intact — until one player wins a lawsuit.”

Eroding NCAA authority

That fear is grounded in reality. The courts have not been kind to the NCAA in recent years. Athletes have filed a wave of legal challenges at nearly every corner of the organization’s authority. Since the $2.8 billion House v. NCAA resolution, individual players have won injunctions forcing the NCAA to grant extra eligibility. The NCAA has won some of those cases, but the uncertainty alone carries enormous consequences about whether Wednesday’s legislation survives a court challenge.

Still, others believe the severity of the penalties is enough to change behavior. 

“If they actually do it to somebody who violates it, absolutely, it’ll work,” one ACC head coach said.

Coaches doubt the rule will have teeth

However, cynicism and skepticism have seeped into the system following years of rulebreakers going unpunished and legal filings that have rendered the NCAA impotent in certain areas.

“There’s no way in hell any of this shit holds up,” an SEC head coach told CBS Sports. “If a kid gets kicked off a team, he can’t join another team?”

Indeed, such circumstances have already occurred in college football, and it’s believed those examples prompted the FBS Oversight Committee to implement new rules to slow coaches’ tampering within the system and to prevent players from attempting to circumvent the portal. Illinois‘ Bret Bielema Lea were the primary sponsors of the legislation, sources told CBS Sports.

Two high-profile moves outside the portal window last year exposed the NCAA’s structural gap, thereby helping two playoff-contending programs. Wisconsin defensive back Xavier Lucas was denied entry into the transfer portal and opted to unenroll from school before choosing to play for MIami. The Badgers sued the Hurricanes for tampering, arguing Lucas was under contract. Miami played him anyway, and the Hurricanes ran to the College Football Playoff national championship. 

Last spring, BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff faced a seven-game suspension for an honor code violation after both portal windows had already closed, so he unenrolled from BYU, enrolled at Tulane as a walk-on and was eventually put on scholarship. He started for the Green Wave, throwing for 3,168 yards and 15 touchdowns while leading the program into the College Football Playoff. BYU had no recourse. 

If both moves happened now, those schools would face significant penalties.

One Big Ten general manager still has doubts the NCAA’s new penalties will curb the behavior.

“Nothing even came of Xavier Lucas leaving for Miami last year — other than the fact he played for a national title,” he said. “There are no teeth right now. Until someone really gets hammered for something, no one is scared. If I’m a blue-blood program, what is there to be scared of? The NCAA is going to go for the low-hanging fruit and not the big boys.”

An SEC general manager echoed the concerns, pointing to staffing and logistical challenges at schools and within the NCAA’s enforcement unit.

“Legal chaos,” he said. “None of these rules hold any weight and are hard to enforce without constant audits, which nobody has the manpower to do effectively.”

Darren Heitner, the attorney who represented Lucas, believes court cases are on the horizon if the NCAA enforces penalties. Courts have repeatedly constrained the organization’s ability to restrict athlete movement and compensation. Most recently, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was granted a sixth year of eligibility in a Mississippi court. Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris is seeking similar relief.

Heitner believes the NCAA’s attempt to model roster control on NFL structures is misguided because the NFL’s legal protection flows from collective bargaining — a mechanism the NCAA has long resisted and lacks. The legislation, Heitner wrote in his newsletter last week, might buy the NCAA a few months of order as it heads into fall camp.

 “But the moment a coach gets suspended or a school gets fined, expect the courtroom filings to begin,” he said. “And given the current judicial climate around college sports, I would not bet on the NCAA successfully defending these rules, at least not in their current form.”

What a court case might look like is also a fascinating question.

“The one thing I’m really interested in is who are they suing?” a Big 12 head coach said. “The whole deal is the penalty is not on the kid, the penalty is on the coach and the school. That’s what’s going to be really interesting.”

On paper, the legislation makes it catastrophically expensive for a program to use him, but it does not make the math impossible. Whether a program — particularly a blue-blood with resources and lawyers — decides those penalties are worth absorbing, and whether the NCAA has the will and manpower to catch them if they do, remains the central unanswered question. 

The ‘tampering’ problem

The NCAA has yet to punish a power program on tampering allegations, even as coaches continue to point fingers and make accusations. Clemson‘s Dabo Swinney made the biggest swing this offseason, accusing Ole Miss coach Pete Golding of tampering with linebacker Luke Ferrelli, a former Cal player who enrolled at Clemson in January only to leave the program for Ole Miss days after the portal closed. 

Swinney alleged Golding texted Ferrelli while he was sitting in an 8 a.m. class, asking about his buyout and sending a photo of a $1 million contract offer. Swinney submitted documentation to the NCAA and went public with the allegations in a 25-minute press conference. Golding has denied the characterization of events, saying the recruitment began before Ferrelli ever arrived in Clemson. The NCAA has not weighed in publicly.

The Big Ten sent a letter to the NCAA last month arguing that existing tampering rules “cannot be credibly or equitably enforced” and called for a moratorium on investigations while new rules are written. 

“These rules were not designed for a world in which student-athletes are compensated market participants making annual decisions with significant economic consequences,” the conference’s letter read, according to ESPN. “The collision between the old rules and new reality is producing outcomes that harm the population that the rules were designed to protect.” 

It’s going to take an act of Congress

Meanwhile, legislation that would fundamentally change college sports and rules enforcement — and potentially provide the NCAA and its membership legal protections ––was given a second wind last month in Washington, D.C. President Trump formed five committees last week, with dozens of collegiate and professional sports leaders tasked with providing suggestions to the President as Republicans continue to push the SCORE Act through Congress.

Wednesday’s vote to curb blind transfers is a narrow answer to a larger problem, and like so many NCAA rules before it, may ultimately be decided in a courtroom.

The Big Ten, in its letter to the NCAA last month, encapsulated the severity of the unknowns facing college sports.

“The system of college sports is under tremendous stress, both internally and externally,” the conference warned. “Systems adapt or they break.”

NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel won the toss and chose to bowl first against Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL clash on Wednesday, banking on early assistance from a fresh pitch.

With both teams fielding strong XIs, the contest promises a balanced battle between bat and ball. However, a notable omission was Arjun Tendulkar, who found no place in either the playing XI or the bench. The son of Sachin Tendulkar had been traded to LSG ahead of the mini auction but remains on the sidelines.

Axar explained the decision of bowling first, adding, “We will bowl first. First match, fresh wicket, it’s a red solid wicket and might help in the first 6 overs. Data says a lot of matches are won by the team batting first, but we thought it’s the first game and we will bowl.”

He also confirmed Delhi’s overseas combination, adding, “Nissanka, Miller, Stubbs and Lungi Ngidi, our four overseas players.”

Delhi Capitals’ playing XI features KL Rahul behind the stumps, alongside Pathum Nissanka and Nitish Rana at the top. Axar leads the side with all-round responsibilities, supported by power-hitters David Miller and Tristan Stubbs in the middle order. Their bowling attack includes Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar and Ngidi, giving them variety across pace and spin.

Lucknow Super Giants, led by Rishabh Pant, opted for a strong overseas core featuring Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and Anrich Nortje.

Pant, who is also keeping wickets, sounded confident ahead of the match. “I think it doesn’t matter here on a wicket like this… I think it’s a completely new energy for sure. You know, we have changed our color, logo, and definitely the mindset.”

Reflecting on last season’s struggles, he added, “We’re gonna like take learning from the last season, but I think the bowlers are really fit and ready again… everyone is willing to go on the field and just make an impact.”

LSG vs DC Playing XI

Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Mohsin Khan, Mohammed Shami, Anrich Nortje, Prince Yadav

Lucknow Super Giants Impact subs: Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akshat Raghuvanshi

Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Vipraj Nigam, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar

Delhi Capitals Impact subs: Ashutosh Sharma, Auqib Nabi, Sameer Rizvi, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair

The TATA IPL 2026 has kicked off in record-breaking fashion, with the opening weekend drawing a massive combined reach of over 515 million viewers across linear television and digital platforms. Driven by two high-scoring encounters featuring successful 200-plus run chases, the tournament has already set new benchmarks in audience engagement and consumption.

Record-breaking engagement across platforms

The opening matches generated a staggering 32.6 billion minutes of watch-time, marking a 26% increase compared to the previous season’s first two games. The surge in viewership highlights the growing appetite for live cricket in India, especially when paired with thrilling on-field action.

Enhanced viewing experience drives growth

A key factor behind the surge has been the introduction of innovative and differentiated viewing experiences. One of the standout features this season is the CTV Hindi feed, which includes insights from former cricketing greats such as Ravichandran Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, and Irfan Pathan. This watch-along format has added a fresh and immersive dimension, blending expert analysis with fan engagement.

Leadership speaks on IPL’s growing impact

Ishan Chatterjee, CEO, Sports, JioStar, emphasized the scale of the tournament, stating, “TATA IPL 2026 has opened at record scale, with deeper engagement than ever before across all platforms. This reinforces both the unmatched scale of live cricket in India and JioStar’s position as the definitive home of cricket.”

He further added, “We are seeing strong growth in reach and engagement, along with clear value and outcomes for all our partners. Live cricket continues to be the most effective environment to drive real brand outcomes at scale.”

IPL Chairman Arun Singh Dhumal echoed similar sentiments, saying, “The start to the season has been extremely encouraging. The combination of high-quality cricket and enhanced viewing experiences is clearly resonating with fans across the country.”

BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia also highlighted the league’s evolution: “The opening weekend numbers are a strong reflection of the deep and enduring connection that fans have with the IPL.”

A promising season ahead

With strong sponsor backing and record-breaking numbers already in place, IPL 2026 has set the tone for what could be its biggest season yet. The early success underlines the league’s unmatched popularity and its ability to continually innovate, ensuring fans remain at the heart of the experience.