Tiger Woods (41) was arrested on May 29 last year for driving under influence of drugs, and he pleaded to charges of reckless driving to avoid going to prison. At the time of his arrest, he was found unconscious inside his Mercedes, and he was intoxicated with prescription drugs and Marijuana.
The police found the car which was parked awkwardly on the roadside with damage on the driver's side. The location was nearly 15 miles from his home and the officers checked the area but could not establish if the car had struck an object or how the car suffered damage.
Woods justified the drugs saying that it was because of his self-medication to get relief from back pain which was bothering him after his fourth back surgery and also from insomnia.
He will have to ensure no repetition
ESPN reports that prosecutors in the Palm Beach County courthouse dropped a DUI (driving under the influence) charge against Tiger Woods after he pleaded to charges of reckless driving. Judge Sandra Bosso-Pardo cautioned him regarding his offenses saying that, if he violates the probation, she could revoke it. She could hand down a jail sentence of 90 days with a fine of up to $500.
Woods agreed to be more careful and behave himself. He will now have to enter a diversion program and spend a year on probation.
He has already completed 50 hours of community service at the Tiger Woods Foundation as a part of that service and will have to shell out a fine of $250 fine and court costs. In view of the fact that he was intoxicated with prescription drugs and marijuana, it will be necessary for him to go through regular drug tests and stay away from alcohol.
Tiger Woods determined to return
When he was arrested, Tiger Woods had marijuana, and drugs in his system. The drugs were identified as painkillers and an anti-anxiety drug but there was no presence of alcohol. This arrest was the first time he had a brush with the law after the incident of Thanksgiving weekend 2009 in Florida.
At that time, he had plowed his SUV into a tree outside his home, and portions of his private life came to the fore leading to his divorce.
Tiger Woods is considered to be the American golf legend and he has had a checkered career. He has a total of 79 PGA Tour victories and 14 major titles but, was unable to compete in any event since February because of his back injury. His last win was in August 2013, and his chances of a return this year are slim even though he says that his back is improving.
Golf requires physical fitness of a high order, especially in the shoulders, arms and the back. Tiger Woods is a dedicated player, and we can only hope that he can make a comeback once he recovers from the back injury.
