Golf legend Tiger Woods says he is stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment following a rollover car crash in Florida last week. The statement came hours after he pleaded not guilty Tuesday to DUI charges related to the incident near his home in Jupiter Island. In his statement, Woods said he’s committed to healing and requested in a recent court filing for permission to receive medical care out of the country. But his legal future after the latest crash is less certain, especially because of his alleged refusal to submit to a urine test.
Woods’ jet landed in Switzerland on Friday, leading to speculation that he might be entering a treatment center there. A judge granted a motion two days earlier for Woods to travel outside the United States and enter a comprehensive inpatient treatment facility. Woods, a five-time Masters champion, told a sheriff’s deputy following the March 27 wreck that he had undergone seven back surgeries and over 20 surgeries on his right leg and that his ankle seizes up while he is walking.
After Woods was handcuffed, another officer found two white pills in his pants pocket. Woods said the pills were Norco, referring to a painkiller that contains acetaminophen and the opioid hydrocodone. Authorities later confirmed that Woods was in possession of hydrocodone. “He’s my hero,” Day said. “He was my hero growing up. The reason why I play golf is because of this tournament and Tiger.
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson witnessed Woods’ last Masters victory in 2019. Watson said he urged other previous champions to go to the 18th green to congratulate him.
“I could care less about Tiger’s golf,” Watson said. “I told him from day one that we started hanging out back in, somewhere in there, that I’m pulling for him as a human being. Forget his golf, I could care less about his golf.
Source:https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/01/us/tiger-woods-car-crash-dui-what-we-know
