Tiger Woods said Tuesday that he is stepping away to seek treatment after pleading not guilty in his driving under the influence case in Florida.
The 50-year-old pro golfer’s lawyer entered a written plea of not guilty, according to the online court docket for Martin County, viewed by Global News. Woods waived his April 23 arraignment hearing and demanded a trial by jury after entering the plea.
The defence has 10 days to file any additional motions and the case is being heard in Florida’s 19th Judicial Circuit.
Four days after his vehicle crashed in Florida and he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Woods announced that he is “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, who will miss the Masters for the second year in a row, wrote in a statement.
“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.”
U.S. President Donald Trump showed his support for Woods following the rollover crash.
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In a phone interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, Trump said he had spoken with Woods since his arrest on Friday.
“I think he’s doing great, he’s doing good,” Trump said. “He tested negative for alcohol, as you know, and he is under a tremendous physical pressure from his various ailments, you know, the back and the leg.
“He lives a life of pain. He has a lot of pain. He’s an amazing guy. He’s an amazing athlete. He does have pain.”
He went on to claim that Woods “doesn’t have an alcohol problem” but “does have pain.”
Woods’ not guilty plea came hours after a sheriff’s report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket and he showed signs of impairment after his SUV clipped a trailer and rolled over onto its side.
His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his pupils dilated and he had opioid pills — identified as hydrocodone — on him when interviewed at the scene of the crash, according to the arrest report released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
Woods’ movements were slow and lethargic, he was sweating as he talked to deputies in the back seat of an air-conditioned car and he told them he had taken prescription medication earlier in the morning, according to the report.
He told deputies he had been looking at his phone and fiddling with the radio moments before he hit the trailer, according to the report.
This is the second time Woods has taken a leave following a car crash. In 2009, after his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and a tree outside his home near Orlando, he took a leave of absence to work on being a better person. That lasted four months and he returned at the Masters.
Woods has not played an official event since the 2024 British Open. He was recovering from a seventh back surgery in October and was trying to return at the Masters, where he is a five-time champion.
Woods will not be in Augusta, Ga., where he was to appear with Masters chairman Fred Ridley to celebrate the opening of a refurbished municipal course that involved Woods, or for the prestigious Masters Club dinner for champions.
“Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament fully support Tiger Woods as he focuses on his well-being. Although Tiger will not be joining us in person next week, his presence will be felt here in Augusta,” Ridley said in a statement.
— With files from The Associated Press
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