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Tiger Woods was not seen anywhere for almost six weeks until recently. He was pictured for the first time after arriving back in Florida last night following a 6-week stay at a rehab facility in Switzerland. But this return sure raises some important questions.

Dressed up in a black t-shirt and grey shorts, he was walking away after stepping down from his jet. His Gulfstream G550 jet departed Zurich Airport around 2 PM local time on May 13. It touched down in Palm Beach by 3:30 PM Pacific Time.

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This was following a stay at an exclusive rehab center focused on pain management without opioids. After his rollover crash on March 27, 2026, law enforcers found two hydrocodone pills in his pocket, which led to his DUI arrest. However, he pleaded not guilty and requested international travel for privacy reasons. So, he entered this Swiss facility.

Reportedly, the program that he was in takes up to 90 days. As he is back after just over 40 days, does it mean he completed the program early, and is he back to optimal health? Or is he here due to concerns following the recent court ruling?

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On May 12, 2026, Martin County Circuit Court Judge Darren Steele granted permission in favor of prosecutors. Despite privacy objections, they received permission to access Woods’s prescription records. They could now access details from January to March 2026 from a Palm Beach pharmacy. This includes information on dosages and warnings. A protective order limits viewing to prosecutors, law enforcement experts, and the defense. Thus, the records remain confidential from the public.

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His absence from the golf course is nothing new. There have been many scenarios where he was on a golf hiatus, such as his 2009 crash, 2021 accident, his father Earl’s death, and more.

After his statement on April 1, 2026, he didn’t post anything on social media and never interacted with anyone from the golf world. In fact, he reportedly downsized his staff, too.

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Tiger Woods and Vanessa Trump reportedly fired staff amid fears of media leaks

Tiger Woods wanted complete privacy during his rehabilitation. That’s what he requested of of everyone when he gave his official statement about stepping away from the media.

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However, he and his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, were still worried about media leaks from their staff. Therefore, they dismissed select employees from their already small team, as reported by Page Six.

“It’s not a big staff. They’re paranoid of leaks, and she hates the press,” Page Six’s source said.

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The actions aimed to tighten privacy after his DUI arrest. And the reason behind all this could be the hatred Tiger Woods faced this time. Since it was not his first DUI arrest, the backlash was pretty intense compared to anything he had faced in the past.

Fans, media, and even some fellow professionals were asking for his arrest. For instance, Stephen A. Smith argued that Tiger Woods should not receive the privacy protections he requested.

The intense reaction surrounding Tiger Woods’ latest arrest also explains why he went completely silent during his rehab stay. Now, with him finally back in Florida and fresh legal developments continuing to unfold, attention around his next move is only growing stronger.

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Written by

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Kailash Bhimji Vaviya

739 Articles

Kailash Vaviya is a Golf Journalist at EssentiallySports, combining newsroom experience with a long-standing passion for the sport. He has been following golf since his college years, closely tracking the rise of modern stars and the drama of the game’s biggest tournaments. With a background in reporting and digital media, Kailash has built a strong foundation in research-driven analysis and storytelling that connects with sports audiences. At EssentiallySports, Kailash brings this blend of journalism and passion to deliver coverage that goes beyond scorecards. Whether it’s breaking down major championships, analyzing player performances, or exploring the cultural resonance of the game, his work aims to inform, engage, and bring fans closer to the world of golf. He has also written for Comic Book Resources (CBR) and Forbes, further expanding his portfolio across sports and media.

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Edited by

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Riya Singhal

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