Tiger Woods Pleads Not Guilty, Announces Treatment Leave After DUI Arrest

The Plea and the Announcement

Tiger Woods entered a written plea of not guilty to a driving under the influence charge in Martin County, Florida on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, four days after his arrest following a rollover crash, according to the Martin County court docket reported by the Associated Press. Woods also waived his scheduled April 23 arraignment hearing.

Hours after the plea, Woods issued a public statement via social media. "I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today," he wrote, according to Deadline. "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."

He added, according to AP: "I'm committed to take 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."

The treatment announcement means Woods will not compete at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, the following week. He is a five-time Masters champion and has been absent from the tournament since 2024, having undergone a seventh back surgery in October 2025 according to AP.

What the Arrest Affidavit Says

The Martin County Sheriff's Office released the arrest affidavit on March 31, which provided detailed accounts from the arresting deputies. According to the affidavit as reported by AP, CNN, and Deadline:

• Deputies found two hydrocodone pills in Woods' pants pocket at the scene.
• Woods' eyes were described as bloodshot and glassy, with dilated pupils.
• One deputy described Woods as sweating profusely with slow and lethargic movements.
• Woods told deputies he had taken prescription medication earlier in the morning, including medication for high blood pressure, cholesterol, ibuprofen, and Vicodin.
• Woods stated he had consumed no alcohol. His breathalyzer registered 0.00, according to CNN's reporting at the time of his arrest.

According to the affidavit, Woods told deputies he had been looking at his phone and adjusting the radio when his vehicle clipped a truck pulling a pressure cleaner trailer on a two-lane road with a 30 mph speed limit in Jupiter Island, Florida. The vehicle rolled over onto its side.

Woods faces two misdemeanor charges: DUI and DUI with property damage, according to Martin County court records cited by AP.

Masters Response and PGA Tour Impact

Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley issued a statement in response to Woods' announcement. "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, as reported by AP.

Woods also serves on the PGA Tour board, leading its Future Competition Committee, which is reshaping the tour's schedule. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said in a statement, also reported by AP: "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." A tour spokesman confirmed Woods did not participate in a Tuesday board meeting, and that the committee's work would continue in his absence.

Prior DUI and Pattern of Crashes

This is Woods' second publicly announced leave of absence following a significant crash. In 2009, after his SUV struck a fire hydrant and tree outside his Florida home, he took a four-month leave of absence, according to AP. He returned at the Masters the following spring.

In 2017, Woods was arrested for DUI in Jupiter, Florida after deputies found him asleep at the wheel of his running car. According to ESPN's reporting at the time, cited in court records, he ultimately pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was sentenced to probation, fines, and community service as part of a diversion program. No alcohol was involved in that incident either — Woods attributed it to an unexpected reaction to prescription medications.

In February 2021, Woods was involved in a more severe single-vehicle rollover crash in Rancho Palos Verdes, California that required surgery on his right leg. He was not charged in that incident. The crash led directly to the back surgery complications that have defined his reduced competitive schedule in recent years.

Legal Next Steps

By entering a written not guilty plea and waiving his arraignment, Woods has triggered the standard pretrial process in Florida. His legal team will have the opportunity to challenge the DUI charges, which require the prosecution to prove impairment. Because Woods' breathalyzer registered 0.00, any impairment case would rest on the presence of hydrocodone and the behavioral observations noted by deputies in the affidavit.

According to AP, Woods has also demanded a jury trial, as confirmed in the online Martin County court docket. The case is expected to proceed through the Florida court system over the coming months. No trial date had been set as of the time of this publication.