Tiger Woods blames prescriptions for arrest
(CNN) – Golfer Tiger Woods, arrested on Memorial Day in Florida on suspicion of driving under the influence, said alcohol was not involved and he had “an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications.”
Woods, currently rehabbing from back surgery, provided a statement to media outlets. He said he did not realize the mix of medications “had affected me so strongly.”
“I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Woods said, according to reports.
Woods was arrested about 3 am yesterday (May 29), Jupiter police spokeswoman Kristin Rightler said. He was booked into a local jail and released on his own recognizance with no bond a few hours later, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s online records.
It’s unclear whether Woods tested positive for alcohol or drugs. It’s also unknown at this time whether Woods was the only person in the vehicle. An arrest report was not immediately available.
In his statement, the golfer apologized to family, friends and fans. “I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again.”
Woods has a home on Jupiter Island.
CNN, which has not independently obtained the statement, has reached out to Woods’ representative but has not heard back. The PGA Tour told CNN it would not comment on the arrest.
Woods has won 14 major tournaments – second only to Jack Nicklaus – and has recently expressed a desire to continue to play golf professionally despite a recent history of injuries. The 41-year-old Woods has undergone multiple back surgeries and hasn’t played competitive golf since he was forced to pull out of the Dubai Desert Classic in February.
His most recent operation – his fourth since 2014 – was just more than a month ago when he underwent fusion surgery on his back. Woods said in a blog post published last Wednesday that “it was instant nerve relief.”
“I haven’t felt this good in years,” he said.
Woods also said in the post that his long-term prognosis for returning to professional golf is positive, but that he won’t be able to twist his back for another two to three months.
“Right now, my sole focus is rehab and doing what the doctors tell me,” he wrote. “I am concentrating on short-term goals.
“I want to thank my doctors for their great work and support throughout this process. I also want to thank the fans for your phenomenal support. It means more than you know. There’s a long way to go, but as I said, words cannot convey how good it feels to be pain-free.”
Woods hasn’t won a major since 2008, when he won the US Open in sudden death over Rocco Mediate. Shortly after the win, Woods announced he would undergo reconstructive ACL surgery on his left knee and would miss the rest of the PGA Tour season.
This is not Woods’ first high-profile mishap. In November 2009, the golfer was taken to a hospital after he was injured in a car accident in front of his Orlando, Florida, home. The episode mushroomed into a scandal in the days afterward when it became public that Woods had been unfaithful to his then-wife, Elin Nordegren.
Woods took a break from professional golf and later apologized for having extramarital affairs and for letting down both his fans and his family. Woods and Nordegren were divorced in 2010.
CAPTION:
Top: Golf legend Tiger Woods was arrested Monday, May 29, on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was booked into a local jail in Florida and released a few hours later, according to online records of the Palm Beach County sheriff’s office. Woods has changed the face of golf since his breakthrough Masters win in 1997, but injuries and off-course problems have blighted the latter years of his career. Photo; CNN
First inset: Woods holds the trophy for the Farmers Insurance Open, where he clinched his 75th PGA Tour title in January 2013. Photo: CNN
SOURCE: CNN written by Kristina Sgueglia and Jill Martin with David Close contributing to this report.
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