Tiger Woods’ statement on Tuesday shocked the golf world. The 15-time major winner said he would step away from golf to get treatment, just days after a DUI charge following a car crash in Jupiter Island, Florida.

Soon after, players, experts, and fans began reacting, and Paige Spiranac’s response was among the first to stand out.

"I think we are all rooting for Tiger," Spiranac posted on X. "Not as a golfer but more importantly as a person."

She chose her words carefully, and this wasn’t a full defense. "Not excusing any behavior," she added, "but I hope he's able to get the help he needs in peace without the whole world dogpiling on him in a very difficult situation."

That balance is what made her response stand out. She acknowledged what happened but didn’t pile on.

"I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today," he wrote on X. "I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health."

A police report said hydrocodone pills were found on him after the crash. He pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge but told police he was looking at his phone before the crash. In recent years, Woods has undergone multiple surgeries and has dealt with constant pain since 2021.

Tiger Woods' Missing This year's Masters Hits Different

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed that Tiger Woods will not play at the Masters, which takes place from April 9 to 12. The club shared a message of support, but his absence already tells the story.

Woods has won at Augusta National Golf Club five times and, until now, had never chosen to sit it out. But he’s been here before. In 2017, he went to rehab, saying he had been dealing with pain and sleep issues on his own.

He came back from that stretch and started winning again.

Whether he can do that again is unclear. For now, Spiranac isn’t looking that far ahead. Her focus is simple: she wants him to get through this phase.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav