His latest actions could now overshadow the major golf achievements he spent so many years building. Last Friday, police detained Tiger Woods, one of the greatest in the sport and the partner of Vanessa Trump, former daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump, after a rollover accident on Jupiter Island, Florida.
The alarming incident, while it did not leave anyone seriously injured, has nonetheless affected his reputation. According to the arrest report, the golfer had a powerful opioid in his possession.
© Getty Images
© HandoutA Crash and Conflicting Accounts
Tiger’s version of events comes down to a simple human error. According to his account, he was changing the radio station while glancing at his phone, which kept him from noticing that the car in front of him had slowed down, ultimately causing the crash. Those statements, however, do not line up with the findings in the report issued by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, where the incident took place.
According to Officer Tatiana Levenar, one of the first deputies on the scene, Woods was sweating heavily during the initial round of questioning, which took place in the back of a patrol car. The report notes that the vehicle’s air conditioning was running, making the reaction stand out in what was otherwise a climate-controlled environment.
Signs of Impairment
The affidavit states that Woods’s movements were described as “lethargic and slow" and that he was seen “limping and stumbling to the right.” Deputies also noted that his eyes appeared “bloodshot and glassy.”
© Getty ImagesOfficers reported that Woods was “extremely alert and talkative” during questioning and that he had “hiccups during the entire investigation.” When asked about medications, Woods told deputies, “I take a few.”
Authorities later found two white pills in his pocket, identified as hydrocodone, an opioid painkiller.
Medical History and Legal Fallout
The report also reflects Woods’s extensive medical history. According to deputies, he stated he had undergone “seven back surgeries and over 20 operations on his leg.”
This was not the first time substances were found in his system. In May 2017, Woods was arrested in a separate incident involving driving under the influence of drugs, when multiple substances were detected.
In the current case, deputies concluded that Woods’s “normal faculties were impaired” and that he was “unable to operate a vehicle safely.”
© Getty ImagesFollowing the incident, Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, property damage, and refusing to submit to a lawful urine test. After spending eight hours in a holding cell, he was released on bail.
The golfer has since pleaded not guilty to the primary charge, despite briefly entering a different plea earlier in Martin County Court, according to People magazine. By pleading not guilty, Woods waived a formal reading of the charges and requested a jury trial, which is scheduled to begin on April 23.
