A Florida judge on Wednesday approved Tiger Woods’ request to leave the United States to seek “comprehensive inpatient treatment” following his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Woods’ attorney, Douglas Duncan, filed the motion in Martin County Court, citing the 50-year-old golfer’s urgent need for an “intensive, highly individualized and medically integrated program” and protection from media scrutiny. Judge Darren Steele granted the request after a teleconference.
Woods’ decision to “step away” from golf-related activities means he will not captain the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup team, the PGA of America confirmed Wednesday.
Woods pleaded not guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor charges of DUI with property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful test. A breathalyzer showed no alcohol in his system, but he refused a urine analysis.
Duncan said Woods’ doctor recommended a treatment facility abroad “based upon the defendant’s complex clinical presentation and the urgent need for a level of care that cannot safely or effectively be done within the United States, as his privacy has been repeatedly compromised.”
“Medical scrutiny and public exposure create significant barriers to care and could result in setbacks,” Duncan added.
Woods, a five-time Masters champion, has a long history of injuries, including multiple back surgeries and emergency leg surgery after a rollover crash in California in 2021. Martin County deputies reported that Woods told officers he had undergone seven back surgeries and more than 20 leg operations, noting he limps and one ankle locks while walking.
In Friday’s accident, Woods told police he was “looking down at his cell phone and changing the radio station” and did not notice the slowed traffic ahead. Deputies described his movements as “lethargic and slow” and his eyes “bloodshot and glassy.” Two hydrocodone pills, an opioid painkiller, were found in his possession.
Woods said in a social media statement Tuesday that he was “stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.”