Tiger Woods Gets Court Approval to Leave the Country for Treatment — Here's What We Know

The Tiger Woods saga took another turn Tuesday when a Florida judge granted the 15-time major champion permission to travel outside the United States for inpatient treatment.

This comes less than a week after Woods was arrested for DUI with property damage following a two-car rollover crash near his Jupiter Island home, and exactly one week before the 2026 Masters is scheduled to begin at Augusta National.

What the Court Documents Say

Woods’ attorney Douglas Duncan — the same lawyer who represented him during his 2017 DUI arrest — filed a motion requesting international travel for treatment. The judge approved it.

The key language from the filing is worth reading carefully:

“Based upon the Defendant’s treating physician, the out of country treatment facility recommendation is based upon the Defendant’s complex clinical presentation and the urgent need for a level of care that cannot safely or effectively be done within the United States, as his privacy has been repeatedly compromised.”

Duncan further argued that “ongoing medical scrutiny and public exposure create significant barriers to his care and would result in setbacks and an inability to fully engage in treatment.”

In other words: Tiger can’t get better here because everyone’s watching.

Tiger’s Statement

Hours before the court filing, Woods released a statement stepping away from golf indefinitely:

“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself today. 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 towards lasting recovery.”

He asked for privacy for himself and his family.

The 2017 Parallels Are Impossible to Ignore

This is almost a carbon copy of what happened nine years ago. In 2017, Woods was found asleep at the wheel on a Florida road with a cocktail of prescription medications in his system. Breathalyzer showed zeros — no alcohol, just pills.

The 2026 arrest affidavit reportedly showed the same pattern: breathalyzer zeros, prescription medication involvement, failed field sobriety tests.

After the 2017 arrest, Woods entered inpatient treatment to manage medications and his approach to dealing with back pain and a sleep disorder. The charges were eventually reduced. Duncan handled that case too.

What This Means for the Masters

Tiger is officially out. There was still some lingering question about whether he’d somehow show up at Augusta next week — he’s done crazier things — but seeking treatment at an international facility puts that to rest completely.

Augusta National released no statement beyond acknowledging Woods remains in the field as a lifetime exempt five-time champion. Whether they would have quietly asked him not to come is a question we’ll probably never get answered.

The PGA Tour’s Response

The PGA Tour’s statement was carefully worded:

“Tiger Woods is a legend of our sport whose impact extends far beyond his achievements on the course. But above all else, Tiger is a person, and our focus is on his health and well-being.”

Tour CEO Brian Rolapp added personal comments about his friendship with Woods and appreciation for Tiger’s perspective as Rolapp joined the golf industry.

What Happens Next

Woods pleaded not guilty and demanded a trial by jury. The legal process will play out over the coming months while he’s in treatment.

The bigger question isn’t legal — it’s whether we ever see Tiger compete in professional golf again. He hasn’t played a tour event since The Open Championship in July 2024. He’s had seven back surgeries and Achilles surgery. He’s 50.

His TGL appearance last month showed he can still swing a golf club. But the gap between indoor simulated golf and 72 holes at Augusta National might as well be the Grand Canyon.

For now, the only thing that matters is that Tiger gets the help he needs. The golf can wait. The Masters will go on without him — and that might be okay.