Tiger Woods turns down Ryder Cup
captain's job and seeks treatment out of country
[April 02, 2026]
By DOUG FERGUSON
Tiger Woods formally turned down the Ryder Cup captaincy Wednesday
as he steps away from golf activities, and a Florida judge approved
his motion to leave the country to seek treatment.
The developments come one day after Woods entered a not guilty plea
to suspicion of driving under the influence when his SUV clipped the
back of a trailer and flipped on its side last week on a residential
road near his home on Jupiter Island, Florida.
Woods posted a statement Tuesday night saying that he was stepping
away indefinitely “to seek treatment and focus on my health.”
A motion filed Wednesday by his attorney, Douglas Duncan, asked a
judge that Woods be allowed to travel outside the country to begin
“comprehensive inpatient treatment.”
Duncan said the recommendation from Woods' doctor was based on the
golfer'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.”
Martin County Court Judge Darren Steele approved the motion, which
did not say where the inpatient treatment facility was located.
Woods sought treatment at an inpatient facility in Mississippi
clinic in January 2010 after he was caught in a series of
extramarital affairs, and his agent said he sought treatment at
another inpatient clinic after his 2017 DUI arrest.
“I'm committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier,
stronger, and more focused place, both personally and
professionally,” Woods said in his statement.
The Ryder Cup decision by the PGA of America was not a surprise
given the last five chaotic days involving Woods dating to his
Friday arrest.
“The PGA of America stands in full support of Tiger Woods as he
steps away to focus on his health and well-being,” the statement
said. “We commend Tiger for prioritizing his long-term health and
deeply respect the courage it takes to make such a personal
decision.”
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Tiger Woods of the Jupiter Links Golf Club plays his shot from the
first tee during final day of TGL golf tournament,Tuesday, March 24,
2026, in Palm Beach Gardens Fla. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
It said Woods “has shared with us” that he will not
be captain.
Woods also turned down an offer to be Ryder Cup captain last time,
waiting until the early summer of 2024 to tell the PGA of America
that he did not have the time. That led to Keegan Bradley being
selected just over a year before the 2025 matches on New York's Long
Island, which Europe won.
The Associated Press reported in February that the
PGA of America set a soft deadline for the end of March for Woods to
decide so the process would not drag on.
The PGA of America said in its statement that it would share further
updates “when appropriate.”
The AP reported Saturday that the Ryder Cup committee had a plan in
place should it not work out with Woods — a short list of as many as
four candidates.
Whatever discussions and interviews take place likely would wait
until after the Masters.
Three players on the Ryder Cup committee — Justin Thomas, Jordan
Spieth and Bradley — are playing in the Masters, the first major of
the year.
Luke Donald already has agreed to captain a third straight time for
Europe, which has won the last two Ryder Cups. No captain has ever
won three straight.
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