Tiger Woods said Tuesday that he is stepping away to seek treatment after he was involved in a rollover in Florida and charged with driving under the influence.
“This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery,” Woods, 50, said in a statement on social media hours after he pleaded not guilty.
“I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally.”
On Wednesday, a judge granted Woods' request to seek treatment outside the United States, according to court documents. Woods' attorney attributed the request in part to the golfer's "repeatedly compromised" privacy.
Authorities said Woods struck a trailer Friday afternoon while a truck was turning into a driveway in Jupiter Island. The truck driver told authorities that he was starting to turn when he saw Woods traveling "at high speeds,” the Martin County Sheriff's Office said.
Woods tried to swerve out of the way, authorities said, but his Land Rover struck the trailer. He climbed out of the window of his SUV and was arrested at the scene.
An incident report said he showed signs of impairment and had opioid pain pills in his pocket. He told deputies he had taken the medication that morning, according to the report.
Woods submitted to a breath test at the jail but refused to do a urine test, authorities said.
The report also said he told a deputy at the scene that he had looked down at his cellphone and did not realize the truck had slowed down.
Woods, a five-time Masters champion, was arrested in 2017 for driving under the influence in Florida after authorities found him unconscious in his Mercedes-Benz roughly 15 miles from his home. A toxicology report showed he had five drugs in his system, including painkillers and a sleep drug.
Woods was seriously injured in a 2021 crash when his vehicle struck a tree in California. He was driving at least twice the speed limit in a 45 mph zone but showed no signs of impairment, authorities said. He was not charged.
