Tiger Woods has sought and been granted permission to leave the U.S. to enter an inpatient treatment facility, according to Florida court records.
TMZ first reported that Woods will be allowed to travel for such treatment due to privacy concerns.
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Sports Illustrated viewed the court documents in which Woods’s attorney, Douglas Duncan, wrote that “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.
“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.”
Darren Steele, a Martin County judge, granted the motion following a conference call Wednesday.
Woods, 50, was involved in a two-vehicle crash Friday in which his Land Rover flipped on its side and after which he was charged with DUI because he refused to take a urine test. Woods passed a breathalyzer, spent eight hours in jail, and Tuesday while saying he was going to retreat from his various duties to address issues, he also pleaded not guilty to the charges.
It was the fourth time dating to 2009 that Woods was involved in a vehicle incident, including the 2021 car crash outside of Los Angeles in which he suffered severe injuries to his lower right leg. Woods was not charged following that incident.
Following a 2017 DUI charge, Woods was discovered to have had multiple painkilling prescription medications in his system. He entered a treatment program following that incident and the charges were later reduced.
Tuesday, the Martin County police released the report on Woods’s arrest for misdemeanor DUI and refusal to submit to urine testing. It noted that Woods appeared disoriented after the crash and exhibited “severe signs of impairment.”
Woods has noted several times over the years that he’s had to manage the pain associated with numerous surgeries. The 15-time major champion who will miss next week’s Masters had a seventh back procedure, disk replacement surgery in October, and was attempting to work his way back to golf.
All of that is now on hold. Woods was to attend the reopening of a public course in Augusta, Ga., on Sunday as well as attend the Masters Champions Dinner on Tuesday. Now he will not do any of that and will for a time leave his duties on the PGA Tour boards as well as the Future Competitions Committee.
“I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health,” Woods said in a Tuesday statement. “This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.
“I’ve committed to taking the time needed to return to a healthier, stronger and more focused place, both personally and professionally.”
In Duncan’s motion to travel, the attorney noted that the unidentified treatment facility would “provide continuous monitoring” in a controlled environment.
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