Tiger Woods has announced that he is taking time away to seek help as he spoke out on his latest DUI arrest for the first time.
The golf legend was arrested for DUI on Friday after tipping his SUV onto its side while attempting to overtake a truck and trailer at high speed in the billionaire enclave of Jupiter Island in Florida. He was found with two pills in his pocket.
The 50-year-old broke his silence on Tuesday, sharing that he would be stepping away to seek treatment – nine years after he completed a private program to address his dependency on painkillers.
‘I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,’ Woods wrote in a statement.
‘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.
‘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.’
A humiliated Tiger Woods stares down the lens for his mugshot after being arrested for DUI
Woods broke his silence on Tuesday, confirming that he would be taking time away
The 50-year-old is in a relationship with Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.
Woods faces charges of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit a lawful test. He is due in court next month.
His arrest came just over a week before The Masters amid rising speculation that Woods could make an appearance at Augusta National.
Woods made his return to competitive action during the TGL finals for Jupiter Links last week, just days before the accident, after being sidelined since October following a seventh back surgery.
However, following the scandal of last Friday, Woods has confirmed that he will not be making an appearance as he takes time away for his health.
‘Tiger Woods is a legend of our sport whose impact extends far beyond his achievements on the course,’ the PGA Tour said in a statement released shortly after Woods spoke out.
‘But above all else, Tiger is a person, and our focus is on his health and well-being. Tiger continues to have our full support as he takes this important step.’
This was not Woods’s first issue behind the wheel. He was arrested for another DUI in 2017 after police found him slumped in his car in Florida with five drugs in his system, including two painkillers.
Tests found the active ingredient for marijuana, two painkillers – Vicodin and Dilaudid – he sleep drug Ambien and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax.
Woods’ life turned upside down with his car when he was involved in a high-speed crash
Woods is driven home from jail after being bailed out by a friend late on Friday night
He later claimed he’d been self-medicating for pain caused by his fourth back surgery and insomnia. Woods did not specifically address the marijuana issue and he wasn’t found with any of the drug in his possession.
Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving and received a year of probation, a $250 fine and was ordered to undergo 50 hours of community service. He was also banned from drinking alcohol during the probation.
In July of that year, Woods completed a private program to address his dependency on painkillers.
At the time, Woods announced that he would ‘tackle this going forward with my doctors, family and friends.’
Woods was later involved in a similar crash in 2021 in California, which shattered his right leg after he was trapped under the vehicle. He needed multiple surgeries in order to recover from his injuries.
He also crashed into a fire hydrant in November 2009 as he tried to flee his Florida home after wife Elin Nordegren discovered he had been having an affair. It sparked an unraveling of his reputation that he has never truly recovered from.
Woods, who told officers he had taken sleeping pills that night, reportedly attempted to escape in his SUV, only to have Nordegren follow him in a golf cart. Neighbors ultimately found Woods unconscious and bloody before calling 911.
A long succession of other women – porn stars, strippers, prostitutes, hostesses, waitresses and more – soon came forward claiming they had slept with Woods.
The golf icon was arrested for another DUI in 2017 after police found him slumped in his car
After his 2017 arrest, Woods was found with five drugs in his system, including two painkillers
Earlier on Tuesday, he entered a plea of not guilty for his latest DUI, hiring cut-throat attorney Douglas Duncan to represent him.
Duncan also fought Woods’ legal battles in 2017 when the golfing icon faces similar DUI charges.
After clambering out of the passenger side window of his vehicle following Friday’s incident, Woods refused to give a urine sample to cops.
An arrest affidavit seen by the Daily Mail has since revealed that the golf icon, 50, told police officers he was ‘looking down at this cell phone and changing the radio station’ before his rollover crash on Jupiter Island.
When officers searched Woods, they discovered two white pills inside the left pocket of his trousers. They were marked ‘M367,’ which is hydrocodone. It is a highly-addictive opioid used to treat severe or chronic pain.
Woods, who has battled addiction to painkillers in the past, was also said to be ‘sweating profusely’ after the incident and an officer noticed his movement was ‘lethargic and slow.’ He was also said to have been battling hiccups.
The 15-time major winner’s eyes were also said to be ‘bloodshot and glassy’ and his pupils ‘extremely dilated.’ When asked if he is currently taking any prescription medication, Woods replied: ‘I take a few.’
