There was a time when the name Tiger Woods signified the be-all and end-all where the best of professional golf is concerned. And even though his star has since faded with the passing of years from his heyday, Woods can still be counted on to wow spectators whenever he shows up in a competition. But his career has also taken its toll; Tiger Woods has been laid up since April for yet another surgery on his back. One would have thought that he’s been recuperating in privacy since then. However, a routine traffic stop in Jupiter, Florida during Memorial Day ruined this image, as Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
Sports star blames medical reaction
Jupiter Police spokesperson Kristin Rightler announced that Tiger Woods was pulled over and arrested at 3 am in the morning on Monday, May 29 – Memorial Day – not far from his home at Jupiter Island, Florida. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the golf superstar spent a few hours at a local jail and then later released on his own recognizance without bail. No arrest report was immediately available at the time so further details such as whether Woods was alone in his vehicle or not, or whether he tested positive for alcohol or drug content, were known.
A statement from Woods released later by his spokesman had the golfer own full responsibility for his own arrest, but that drunkenness was not actually a factor for his DUI charge.
"I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved," he explained. Woods elaborated on the incident and claimed that his early morning drive that led to his traffic stop was due to some unexpected negative reactions to a mix of his prescribed medications following his back surgery. The combination had a strong effect on his faculties, he said.
Sorry for embarrassment
Tiger Woods then went on to say sorry for the spectacle caused by his brief episode that landed him in jail. "I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself, too," his statement read, adding, "I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again." The golf legend had earlier expressed feeling great after his latest surgery.
Despite the problems wrought by the revelation of his questionable private life back in 2009, Woods has managed to somehow remain relevant in professional golf despite losing his number one spot. Thanks to the retention of his current sponsors like Nike and Monster Energy, Woods remained on the Forbes list of highly-paid athletes in 2016 despite not playing much that year due to surgical recoveries.
