Woods was arrested after crashing his Range Rover on a two-lane road near his home in Jupiter Island, Fla., on March 27
Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Tiger Woods is hoping to make a return to golf after seeking treatment following his recent DUI arrest
- A source tells PEOPLE exclusively that the athlete “knows he needs to beat his issues and also deal with the pain from not only playing golf but also from his regular fitness schedule”
- Woods was arrested after crashing his Range Rover on a two-lane road near his home in Jupiter Island, Fla., on March 27
Tiger Woods is hoping to make a return to golf after seeking treatment following his recent DUI arrest, a source tells PEOPLE exclusively.
According to a golf insider, Woods, 50, "desperately" wants to return to the sport — and that is motivating him to stick with his treatment. Days after his March 27 arrest, the athlete announced in a statement posted on X that he was "stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment" and focus on his health.
"This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery," he said at the time.
Now, the source says Woods is doing what is needed to feel good both physically and mentally.
“He knows he needs to beat his issues and also deal with the pain from not only playing golf but also from his regular fitness schedule,” the source explains. “People around him are supporting him, both personally and professionally. All of this is helping him deal with it enough to get through it.”
Credit: Martin County Sheriff’s Office
Another source tells PEOPLE that Woods "still has golf in him," including potential Masters or other tournaments, but things have become "harder" due to injuries and his age.
“He just wants to get better in all areas of his life,” the source notes.
A representative for Woods did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Woods was arrested after crashing his Range Rover on a two-lane road near his home in Jupiter Island, Fla., on March 27.
Authorities said they found two hydrocodone pills in his pants pocket and, after issuing Woods a sobriety test, “observed several signs of impairment,” including "bloodshot and glassy" eyes and "extremely dilated" pupils, per a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.
Credit: AP Photo/Jason Oteri
In Martin County Sheriff’s deputies’ bodycam video, obtained by PEOPLE, Woods asked, "I'm being arrested?" as he was being handcuffed, to which a police officer told him, "At this time, I do believe your normal faculties are impaired."
En route to the Martin County Jail, Woods, draped in a sheet, spent most of the ride hiccupping. At certain points, he winced, rested his head back and closed his eyes, as seen in the bodycam video.
Authorities said Woods did not consume alcohol, and he "blew triple zeroes" on a Breathalyzer test. But he allegedly refused a urinalysis, and authorities believe he was "not impaired by alcohol but possibly by medication or another substance."
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Four days after his arrest, on March 31, Woods broke his silence on the incident with his statement about seeking treatment.
"I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today," he said.
"I'm committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally," Woods added. "I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time."
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