Tiger Woods said Tuesday night that "he's stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health," announcing the decision four days after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI and refusal to submit to a lawful test stemming from a rollover crash in Florida.
"I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today," the 15-time major champion said in a statement posted to his social media accounts. "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 to 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."
Woods' statement came hours after he entered a plea of not guilty to charges of misdemeanor DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, according to court documents.
Attorney Douglas Duncan of West Palm Beach, Florida, submitted Woods' not guilty plea and demand for a trial jury in Martin County Circuit Court in Stuart, Florida.
Woods also waived his arraignment hearing, which had been scheduled for April 23.
Duncan didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from ESPN.
Due to multiple injuries, Woods, 50, last competed on the PGA Tour in July 2024, when he missed the cut at the Open Championship.
And while he hadn't committed to playing, he had been working to return to competition at next week's Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, where he's won five times.
Even if Woods didn't play, he was scheduled to attend a Sunday ceremony for the opening of "The Patch," a municipal golf course in Augusta, where he built a new short course and helped redesign the existing 18 holes. Woods also was expected to attend the annual Champions Dinner at Augusta National on April 7.
"Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament fully support Tiger Woods as he focuses on his well-being," Masters chairman Fred Ridley said in a statement. "Although Tiger will not be joining us in person next week, his presence will be felt here in Augusta."
Even though injuries have sidelined Woods for much of the past four seasons, he has been heavily involved in governance of the PGA Tour, serving as chairman of the Future Competition Committee and a player director on PGA Tour Enterprises Board, PGA Tour Policy Board and the Player Advisory Council.
"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. "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."
Added PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp: "Tiger Woods is one of the most influential figures the sports world has ever known. Over the last year, I have come to deeply appreciate Tiger not only for his impact on the game, but for his friendship and the perspective he has shared with me as I joined the golf industry. My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step, for which he has my full respect and support."
Earlier Tuesday, the Martin County Sheriff's Department released an arrest affidavit that included details of Woods' arrest following the rollover crash Friday near his home on Jupiter Island, Florida.
Woods told authorities that he was looking down at his cellphone and changing the radio station in his SUV, which caused him not to see a truck slowing down, according to the affidavit.
Martin County Sheriff Deputy Tatiana Levenar wrote in an arrest affidavit that Woods was "sweating profusely" and his movement was "lethargic and slow" while she interviewed him.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said Friday that Woods' breathalyzer test didn't show signs of alcohol. Woods refused to submit to a urinalysis or blood test for other drugs, according to the sheriff.
Woods' Range Rover SUV rolled over after it clipped a trailer being hauled by a truck. The truck had slowed down to turn into a driveway. Woods' SUV swerved and flipped on its side and slid down the road. Woods climbed out of the passenger's window to get out.
After Woods agreed to perform field sobriety exercises, Levenar observed him "limping and stumbling to the right."
Woods told the deputy that he had had seven back surgeries and more than 20 operations on his right leg, which he had severely injured in a car wreck outside Los Angeles in February 2021.
"I asked Woods if he was able to perform tasks such as walking and lifting his leg, Woods advised he has a limp and his ankle seizes while walking," Levenar wrote in the affidavit.
Because of his medical condition, Levenar told Woods to sit on the bumper of a police cruiser for the rest of the investigation.
Once Woods removed his sunglasses, Levenar noted that his eyes were "bloodshot and glassy" and his pupils were "extremely dilated."
The deputy asked Woods if he had consumed any alcohol, and he replied: "None."
When Levenar asked if Woods had taken any prescription medication, he stated: "I take a few." Woods said he had taken prescription pills earlier in the morning, according to the report.
The names of the medications were redacted in the affidavit.
Another Martin County sheriff's deputy found two hydrocodone pills in Woods' left pants pocket, according to the arrest affidavit. Hydrocodone was the drug found in Woods' system when he was arrested on DUI charges in May 2017.
Levenar instructed Woods to do a series of four field sobriety tests while sitting on the bumper of a police cruiser.
"Based on my observations of Woods, how he performed the exercises and based on my training, knowledge, and experience, I believed that [Woods'] normal facilities were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle," Levenar wrote.
After Woods was arrested, he was transported to the Cleveland Clinic ER South, but he refused medical treatment. He was transported back to the Martin County Jail, where he was held until he was released on $1,000 bond later Friday night.
Duncan represented Woods in a 2017 case in which the golfer was arrested on suspicion of DUI after police officers found him asleep at the wheel in his running car, which had two flat tires and damage on the front and rear bumpers. Woods said he had taken a bad mix of painkillers.
Woods later pleaded guilty to reckless driving and agreed to enter a diversion program as part of the plea deal. Woods checked into a treatment facility that year to get help with prescription drugs.
In February 2021, Woods suffered significant leg injuries in a one-car crash outside of Los Angeles in which his SUV rolled several times and left him trapped inside. He later had surgery to deal with "open fractures" to his lower right leg, had a rod placed in a tibia and had screws and pins inserted in his foot and ankle during emergency surgery. Woods was hospitalized for three weeks following the surgery.
Woods' vehicle had been traveling between 84 and 87 mph in an area with a 45 mph speed limit, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at the time.
