Golf star Tiger Woods announced Tuesday that he plans to “step away” from his sport to seek treatment after being charged with a DUI in Florida.
Woods was arrested on March 28 and pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge after he rolled his SUV just minutes away from his Florida home around 2 p.m.
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods said in a post on X. “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.”
Woods stepping away from golf means that he will no longer participate in the high-profile Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, a tournament he has played in 26 times and was aiming to play in again this year. The Masters will commence on April 9 and run until April 12.
In a statement, Augusta National Golf Club said it supports Woods’s recovery journey and his “presence will be felt here in Augusta.”
The accident occurred when Woods collided with a truck pulling a trailer as the other driver turned into a driveway on Jupiter Island. Woods was checking his phone and changing the radio station while driving above the speed limit when the rollover crash occurred, he told police. Neither the golfer nor anyone else was injured in the crash.
During the crash, a police affidavit said Woods carried two hydrocodone pills, opioid painkillers, in his left pocket. Documents reported by multiple outlets said Woods’s eyes appeared “bloodshot and glassy” and he was “sweating profusely.”
Woods reportedly told police that he had not consumed alcohol before the crash, but he admitted to taking the opioid before the accident. He had submitted a breathalyzer test at the Martin County jail following his arrest, which resulted in a 0.0, but he declined to submit a urine sample, leading to an additional charge.
President Donald Trump commented on the golfer’s arrest and said that because the 50-year-old athlete has had prior leg and back injuries, he “lives a life of pain.”
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The crash marks the second DUI-related accident Woods has been involved in within the last decade. He was arrested on Jupiter Island in 2017 after falling asleep behind the wheel of a running vehicle while under the influence of prescription drugs.
Woods was also involved in a separate rollover car crash in 2021, which resulted in the golfer needing emergency surgeries.