Tiger Woods said he plans to seek treatment in his first public remarks after being arrested in Florida on a DUI charge last week following a car crash in Jupiter Island, Fla.
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” he wrote in a statement shared on social media Tuesday, hours after he pleaded not guilty to DUI charges. “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.
“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’ comments come right before the 2026 Masters, with his status now even more uncertain.
The 50-year-old Woods rolled his luxury SUV while driving just a few minutes away from his Florida home around 2 p.m. on Friday, his fourth accident dating back to 2009.
Woods attempted to go around a flatbed truck at a “high rate of speed,” according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, but had to swerve due to oncoming traffic and then hit the truck.
Woods did not suffer any injuries, but police noticed something amiss.
“Mr. Woods did exemplify the signs of impairment,” the sheriff said.
Although a breath test did not display signs of alcohol, Woods appeared to be affected by “some type of medication or drug,” according to Budensiek.
Police ultimately arrested Woods on charges of driving under the influence with property damage and refusing a lawful test.
It marked his second DUI arrest since 2017, when he pled guilty to driving while being high on prescription pills and was found passed out at the wheel in Jupiter, Fla.
Woods left jail Friday after being booked for several hours, and he appeared to have bloodshot eyes in his mug shot.
This accident comes five years after his last crash in 2021 in the Los Angeles era, when he suffered injuries — including an open fracture — that required hospitalization and surgery, and put his career at risk.
“I’m lucky to be alive and also have a limb,” Woods said in December 2021, per ESPN.
Woods’ status for The Masters, which starts on April 9, was uncertain before his latest incident. President Donald Trump said before the accident that Woods would not be participating in golf’s biggest event.
The star golfer recently made his return after a roughly 20-month absence at the TGL Finals in late March.
“Tiger Woods is a legend of our sport whose impact extends far beyond his achievements on the course,” the PGA Tour said in a statement Tuesday. “But above all else, Tiger is a person, and our focus is on his health and well-being. Tiger continues to have our full support as he takes this important step.”
Woods previously underwent lumbar disk replacement surgery in October and surgery for a ruptured left Achilles in March 2025.
“I’ve been trying. Just this body is – it doesn’t recover like it did when it was 24, 25. It doesn’t mean I’m not trying,” Woods said of the Masters, per Yahoo. “I’ve been trying for a while. I’ve had a couple bad injuries here over the past years that I’ve had to fight through and it’s taken some time.
“But I keep trying. I want to play. I love the tournament. I’ve loved being there since I was 19 years old. It’s meant a lot to me and my family over the years. I’m going to be there either way with The Loop that’s going up there, as well as the Champions Dinner.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
