Tiger Woods is stepping away from competitive golf and will miss the 2026 Masters at Augusta National, the 15-time major champion announced through a statement following his arrest on DUI-related charges near his home on Jupiter Island, Florida.
Woods, 50, was taken into custody after a two-car crash late last week. He was charged with driving under the influence causing property damage and with refusing to submit to a DUI test, pleaded not guilty, and has demanded a trial by jury. The arresting officers' report described him as "sweating profusely" with "lethargic and slow movements," and noted two white hydrocodone pills recovered from his pants pocket. Woods told officers he had taken "a few" prescription medications and admitted he had been looking at his mobile phone at the time of the accident.
Within days, Woods made his next move public. In a short written statement released through his team he framed the stepping-away decision as a health priority rather than a short tournament absence.
"I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself today," Woods said. "I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health."
"I'm committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally," he added.
The practical logistics have also been settled. A Florida judge this week approved Woods' request to undertake inpatient treatment outside the United States, citing the need for "continuous monitoring," a "highly controlled environment," and the reality that repeated media exposure in Florida would compromise the effectiveness of his care. The specific facility has not been disclosed.
The fallout for the 2026 Masters is immediate. Woods, a five-time Masters champion whose 2019 victory at Augusta was one of the most celebrated comebacks in sport, will not tee it up when the field gathers at Augusta National next week. The PGA Tour, which has built major campaigns around Woods' presence for more than a quarter of a century, issued a statement of support.
"Tiger Woods is a legend of our sport," the Tour said. "Our focus is on his health and well-being. Tiger continues to have our full support."
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley offered a similar note in his own statement, gesturing to the cultural weight of Woods' connection to the tournament even in absence.
"Although Tiger will not be joining us in person next week," Ridley said, "his presence will be felt here in Augusta."
Woods' medical history provides context for the decision. He has undergone multiple back and leg surgeries, including reconstructive work on his right leg after the 2021 Los Angeles car crash that threatened to end his career. He has spoken openly at times about managing chronic pain, and the presence of hydrocodone alongside a DUI charge is the kind of combination that, according to his team, required a structured treatment response rather than a short disciplinary break.
He will also miss subsequent marquee events while in treatment. No return date has been put on his playing schedule, and his camp has indicated that decisions about competitive golf will follow medical advice rather than tournament calendars.
For Augusta, the week will proceed without its most recognisable champion for the first time since his last extended medical absence. The field will be asked, as it has been before, to write its own storyline. Woods, for now, will be writing his elsewhere.
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*Originally published on [Golf News Global](https://golfnews.global/article/tiger-woods-rehab-masters-absence). Visit for full coverage.*
