Tiger Woods taking a break from golf to pursue treatment

Tiger Woods is taking a break from golf “to seek treatment and concentrate on my health,” he stated in a release on Tuesday.

This announcement followed four days after Woods faced charges of misdemeanor DUI with property damage and refusal to comply with a lawful test related to a rollover accident in Jupiter, Florida. He entered a not guilty plea earlier on Tuesday.

“I recognize and comprehend the gravity of the situation I am currently in,” Woods remarked. “I am stepping away for a time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is essential for me to prioritize my well-being and work towards lasting recovery.”

“I am dedicated to taking the necessary time to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused state, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and I request privacy for my family, loved ones, and myself during this time.”

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— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 31, 2026

Woods, 50, last participated in the PGA Tour in July 2024 when he did not make the cut at the Open Championship. His most recent appearance in a PGA Tour event with four rounds was at the 2024 Masters.

“Tiger Woods is a legend in our sport whose influence goes well beyond his accomplishments on the course,” the PGA Tour stated in a release. “However, above all, Tiger is a person, and our primary concern is his health and well-being. Tiger continues to have our full support as he undertakes this significant step.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Martin County (Florida) Sheriff’s Department issued an arrest affidavit detailing Woods’ arrest last Friday near his residence in Jupiter.

Woods informed authorities that he was distracted by his cellphone and adjusting the radio in his Range Rover SUV, which led him to overlook a truck towing a trailer that was slowing down, according to the affidavit.

Martin County Sheriff’s deputy Tatiana Levenar noted in the arrest affidavit that Woods was “sweating profusely” and his movements were “lethargic and slow” during her questioning. Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek stated on Friday that Woods’ breath test did not indicate alcohol presence. Woods declined to undergo a urinalysis or blood test for other substances, according to the sheriff.

Woods’ SUV overturned after it struck the trailer, veered, flipped onto its side, and slid down the road. The driver of the truck and another unidentified individual assisted Woods in exiting through the passenger window of his SUV.

After Woods consented to perform field sobriety tests, Levenar reported observing him “limping and stumbling to the right.”

Woods informed the deputy that he had undergone seven back surgeries and more than 20 procedures on his right leg, which he severely injured in a car accident near Los Angeles in February 2021.

“I inquired if Woods was capable of performing tasks such as walking and lifting his leg, to which Woods replied that he has a limp and his ankle seizes while walking,” Levenar wrote in the affidavit.

Due to his medical condition, Levenar instructed Woods to sit on the bumper of a police cruiser for the duration of the investigation.

Once Woods removed his sunglasses, Levenar observed that his eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” and his pupils were “extremely dilated.”

The deputy asked Woods if he had consumed any alcohol, and he responded: “None.”

When Levenar inquired if Woods had taken any prescription medications, he replied: “I take a few.” Woods indicated that he had taken prescription pills earlier that morning, according to the report.

The names of the medications were redacted in the affidavit.

Another Martin County Sheriff’s deputy discovered two hydrocodone pills in Woods’ left pants pocket, as stated in the arrest affidavit. Hydrocodone was the substance found in Woods’ system during his DUI arrest in May 2017.

Levenar directed Woods to complete a series of four field sobriety tests.

“Based on my observations of Woods, his performance on the exercises, and my training, knowledge, and experience, I believed that [Woods’] normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle,” Levenar wrote.

After Woods was taken into custody, he was transported to the Cleveland Clinic Martin South ER, but he declined all medical treatment. He was then returned to the Martin County Jail, where he was held until he was released on a $1,000 bond later that night.

Attorney Douglas Duncan of West Palm Beach, Florida, filed Woods’ not guilty plea on Tuesday and requested a jury trial in Martin County. Woods also waived his arraignment hearing, which was set for April 23.

Duncan previously represented Woods in a 2017 case where the golfer was arrested on suspicion of DUI after police found him asleep at the wheel of his running car, which had two flat tires and damage to the front and rear bumpers. Woods stated that he had taken a poor combination of painkillers.

Although Woods has not competed on tour since the 2024 Open Championship, he did participate in the TGL finals last week for his Jupiter Links team, just three days before the crash. He had remained silent regarding his playing status for the upcoming Masters, only mentioning that he was working on it with hopes of competing but acknowledging that his back injuries could hinder that possibility.

“Tiger Woods is one of the most significant figures the sports world has ever known,” PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated in a release. “Over the past year, I have come to greatly value Tiger not only for his influence on the game but also for his friendship and the insights he has shared with me as I entered the golf industry. My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step, which has my full respect and support.”