Professional golfer Tiger Woods made a public apology for driving under the influence a day after his arrest.
When the athlete was found asleep at the wheel of his dented and banged-up Mercedes, law enforcement officers suspected Woods had spent the night drinking.
His head was on the steering wheel, two tires were flat, and there was cosmetic damage to the right side of the luxury vehicle. Police had to bang on the windows and shake Woods awake.
Mugshot of Tiger Woods after Jupiter arrest on DUI charges https://t.co/DfRKsWzOZR pic.twitter.com/ddLbpm2wmx
— WPTV (@WPTV) May 29, 2017
Asked a series of simple questions, Woods appeared confused. He said he didn’t know where he was and had just come from a golf tournament in Los Angeles.
Later on, he changed his story, recognizing he was close to home but not sure how far away.
Tested with a breathalyzer, Woods’ result came back to show a BAC of 0.00. He was administered a blood test at the police station but the results haven’t been made public yet.
However, Woods was able to offer an explanation after returning to his senses, saying his crash and loss of consciousness wasn’t the fault of alcohol but “an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications.”
Having recently undergone his fourth major surgery since 2014, the golfer said he hadn’t realized the pain and health management pills he’s taking “had affected me so strongly.”
“I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions,” he said in a statement.
“I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, my friends and the fans,” he continued. “I expect more from myself too. I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again.”
The last procedure Woods had performed was a spinal fusion, which was completed in April.
Mark Steinberg, Woods’ longtime agent, admitted that the accident was caused by a cocktail of pills but wouldn’t say whether the medication was related to the athlete’s recent spinal fusion.
“He wanted to clarify the situation,” said Steinberg, speaking of Woods’ statement. “But there’s nothing further to provide right now.”
Tiger Woods was booked into the Jupiter, FL, police station at 7:18am on Memorial Day and released a little over four hours later on recognizance and without paying bail.
Formerly the best-ranked golfer in the world, Woods hasn’t won a major tournament since 2008. A year later, in 2009, his life erupted in scandal after an automobile accident revealed a chain of extramarital infidelities that culminated in his divorce and a lengthy break from the world of sports and sponsorships.
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