Court grants Tiger Woods permission to seek medical care abroad

A Florida judge has given Tiger Woods the green light to leave the United States in order to undergo comprehensive inpatient treatment, following his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.

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This decision was made after Woods's attorney, Douglas Duncan, submitted a motion to travel, citing the need for an intensive and medically integrated program, as well as the importance of maintaining the golfer's privacy amidst media and public scrutiny.

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Martin County Court Judge Darren Steele granted the motion during a teleconference, paving the way for Woods to seek treatment outside of the country.

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According to Duncan, Woods's doctor has recommended this out-of-country treatment facility due to the golfer's complex clinical presentation and the need for a level of care that cannot be safely provided within the United States.

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Duncan also noted that ongoing medical scrutiny and public exposure would hinder Woods's ability to fully engage in treatment and could lead to setbacks in his recovery.

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In a statement posted on his social media accounts on Tuesday, Woods announced that he would be taking a break to focus on his health and prioritize his well-being.

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Woods stated that seeking treatment is necessary for him to achieve lasting recovery, just four days after being arrested on suspicion of DUI following a car crash near his Jupiter Island home.

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Woods pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges of DUI with property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful test on Tuesday, with a breathalyzer test showing no alcohol in his system, although he refused a urine analysis after the crash.

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According to the accident report from the Martin County Sheriff's Office, Woods claimed he was distracted by his cell phone and the radio when the crash occurred, stating that he did not notice the vehicle in front of him had slowed down.

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Authorities described Woods as "lethargic and slow" at the scene, with "bloodshot and glassy" eyes, and noted that he was "sweating profusely" and "limping and stumbling to the right" while walking.

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Police also found two hydrocodone pills, an opioid painkiller, on Woods, who appeared unable to safely operate a vehicle at the time of his apprehension.

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Woods informed authorities that he has undergone seven back surgeries and over 20 operations on his leg, which has resulted in a limp, with his ankle sometimes seizing up while he walks.

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This is not the first time Woods has been arrested on suspicion of DUI, having been previously arrested in 2017 after being found asleep at the wheel of his damaged car.

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Woods eventually pleaded guilty to reckless driving in the 2017 incident and entered a treatment facility to seek help with managing prescription drugs.

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In February 2021, Woods underwent emergency surgery for multiple compound fractures in his right leg and a shattered ankle after a rollover crash in California.

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He made a return to competition with a 47th-placed finish at the 2022 Masters, but has not competed in a top-level golf event since the 2024 British Open.

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Woods has also undergone surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon in March 2025 and had further back surgery in October of the same year.