Judge Darren Steele of Florida’s Martin County Court has authorized Tiger Woods to leave the United States to undergo comprehensive inpatient treatment at an undisclosed facility outside the country. The approval followed a teleconference hearing on a motion filed by Woods’s legal team.

During the hearing, Woods’s attorney, Douglas Duncan, argued that Woods requires an intensive, individualized, and medically integrated treatment program that, according to the defense, cannot be safely or effectively delivered within the United States. The primary factors cited were repeated intrusions into Woods’s privacy and sustained media scrutiny, which the defense contended would interfere with treatment.

Court filings indicate that Woods’s physician recommended a specific facility abroad, stating that Woods’s complex clinical presentation necessitates a level of care that would be undermined by ongoing public attention. The motion asserted that continued scrutiny could create significant barriers to care and increase the risk of treatment setbacks or incomplete engagement with the program.

The court’s decision follows Woods’s arrest in Florida on suspicion of driving under the influence after a rollover vehicle crash. He has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. A breathalyser test reportedly showed no alcohol in his system, but he declined to provide a urine sample. Law enforcement officers described him as lethargic and slow, with bloodshot and glassy eyes, and reported finding two hydrocodone pills in his possession.

In an accident report, Woods informed officers that he had undergone seven back surgeries and more than 20 operations on his leg. He stated that he walks with a limp and that one ankle can seize up. His medical and legal history includes a 2017 DUI arrest associated with prescription medications, after which he pleaded guilty to reckless driving and entered treatment, as well as emergency surgery for multiple leg fractures sustained in a 2021 crash in California.

Woods has publicly stated that he is stepping away from professional commitments for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on his health, characterizing the decision as necessary to prioritize his well-being and pursue long-term recovery.

The decision has immediate professional implications. The PGA of America has confirmed that Woods will not serve as captain of the 2027 US Ryder Cup team. Golf governing figures, including Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley, have expressed institutional support for Woods’s decision to focus on treatment and recovery.