[h=2]Fallen golf star Woods claims DUI arrest was because of an 'unexpected reaction' to mix of prescription medications and NOT alcohol as he apologizes to family and fans[/h]
Tiger Woods has claimed his DUI arrest in Florida was because of an 'unexpected reaction' to his medication and not because he was drunk. The fallen golfing great issued a statement on Monday evening blaming a 'mix of medications' and apologized to his family, friends and fans for his 3am arrest. The 41-year-old, who was described as 'arrogant' by the arresting officers refused to take a breathalyzer test when pulled over but in his statement claimed he 'fully cooperated' and made the point of thanking Jupiter Police. The 14-time Major winner was pulled over driving southbound away from his $83m Jupiter Island home and restaurant The Woods when he was stopped driving 'erratically, all over the road' in his 2015 Mercedes-Benz. A cop said that he smelled alcohol on his breath and then arrested him for refusing to take the test - automatic grounds to be cuffed in Florida. The superstar spent three-and-a-half hours in Palm Beach County Jail before being released at 10:50am along with a disheveled mughost revealing the once bright light of golf to be bleary-eyed and balding. Woods also apologized to his family (including son Charlie and daughter Sam – pictured) in his statement issued on Monday evening.
[h=1]Fallen golf star Woods claims DUI arrest was because of an 'unexpected reaction' to mix of medications and alcohol WASN'T involved as he apologizes to family and fans[/h]
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- Tiger Woods claims he was not drunk when he was arrested on Monday
- Officer in Jupiter pulled over the star at 3am and 'smelled alcohol'
- The megastar allegedly refused to take a Breathalyzer test and was 'arrogant'
- Issued groveling statement in which he apologized for his latest embarrassment
- Embarrassing dashcam footage of the arrest could be released on Tuesday
- Sources claimed that Woods, 41, was 'driving erratically, all over the road'
- Tiger Woods could lose his multi-million dollar endorsement contracts
- Star's current girlfriend 'broke down in tears' when she was told of the arrest
- Cori Rist, one of Tiger Woods' ex-mistresses, has spoken out following the golfer's DUI arrest on Monday
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Tiger Woods has claimed his DUI arrest in Florida was because of an 'unexpected reaction' to his medication and not because he was drunk.
The fallen golfing great issued a groveling statement on Monday evening blaming a 'mix of medications' for his latest public embarrassment and apologized to his family, friends and fans for his 3am arrest.
The 41-year-old, who was described as 'arrogant' by the arresting officers refused to take a breathalyzer test when stopped but in his statement claimed he 'fully cooperated' and made the point of thanking Jupiter Police.
The 14-time Major winner was pulled over driving southbound away from his $83m Jupiter Island home and restaurant The Woods when he was seen driving 'erratically, all over the road' in his 2015 Mercedes-Benz.
A cop said that he smelled alcohol on his breath and then arrested him for refusing to take the test - automatic grounds to be cuffed in Florida.
The superstar spent three-and-a-half hours in Palm Beach County Jail before being released at 10:50am along with a disheveled mugshot revealing the once bright light of golf to be bleary-eyed and balding.
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The fallen golfing great issued a groveling statement on Monday evening blaming a 'mix of medications' for his latest public embarrassment and apologized to his family, friends and fans for his 3am arrest.
The 41-year-old, who was described as 'arrogant' by the arresting officers refused to take a breathalyzer test when stopped but in his statement claimed he 'fully cooperated' and made the point of thanking Jupiter Police.
The 14-time Major winner was pulled over driving southbound away from his $83m Jupiter Island home and restaurant The Woods when he was seen driving 'erratically, all over the road' in his 2015 Mercedes-Benz.
A cop said that he smelled alcohol on his breath and then arrested him for refusing to take the test - automatic grounds to be cuffed in Florida.
The superstar spent three-and-a-half hours in Palm Beach County Jail before being released at 10:50am along with a disheveled mugshot revealing the once bright light of golf to be bleary-eyed and balding.
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[h=3]TIGER'S FULL STATEMENT[/h]
'I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions. I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved,' wrote Woods, 41.
'What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn’t realize the mix of medications had affected me so strongly.
'I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too.
'I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again.
'I fully cooperated with law enforcement, and I would like to personally thank the representatives of the Jupiter Police Department and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office for their professionalism.'
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'I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions. I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved,' wrote Woods, 41.
'What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn’t realize the mix of medications had affected me so strongly.
'I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too.
'I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again.
'I fully cooperated with law enforcement, and I would like to personally thank the representatives of the Jupiter Police Department and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office for their professionalism.'
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Jupiter Police Department spokesperson Kristin Rightler said that she was unaware whether the arrest was for drugs or alcohol but said the arrest report would be available on Tuesday.
Before Wood broke his silence to claim pills not booze caused him to lose control, some of the notorious womanizer's ex-mistresses came to his defense.
.Model Coris Rist, who had a six-month affair with the golfer in 2006 when he was married to Elin Nordegren said that the news of his arrest was 'kind of sad' and that he 'was going through a difficult time'.
Furthermore, TMZ claimed that his current girlfriend, Kristin Smith found out about the arrest while shopping at a Neiman Marcus store in Dallas and 'went crazy', began crying and said 'I knew it, I knew it'.
It is not clear yet what she was referring to.
TMZ then claims Smith - who is the ex-wife of former Dallas Cowboys safety Gerald Sensabaught - spent $5,000 in the store after crying and then left.
Smith currently lives in Dallas and is a stylist who runs her own business, The Clad Life.
Indeed, Rist said that following his DUI arrest today, she feels sorry for the golfer.
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Before Wood broke his silence to claim pills not booze caused him to lose control, some of the notorious womanizer's ex-mistresses came to his defense.
.Model Coris Rist, who had a six-month affair with the golfer in 2006 when he was married to Elin Nordegren said that the news of his arrest was 'kind of sad' and that he 'was going through a difficult time'.
Furthermore, TMZ claimed that his current girlfriend, Kristin Smith found out about the arrest while shopping at a Neiman Marcus store in Dallas and 'went crazy', began crying and said 'I knew it, I knew it'.
It is not clear yet what she was referring to.
TMZ then claims Smith - who is the ex-wife of former Dallas Cowboys safety Gerald Sensabaught - spent $5,000 in the store after crying and then left.
Smith currently lives in Dallas and is a stylist who runs her own business, The Clad Life.
Indeed, Rist said that following his DUI arrest today, she feels sorry for the golfer.
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The former world number one has been out of the game thanks to a back injury. But he had surgery in April and has pledged to return to the sport. Pictured above at the Farmers Insurance Open in La Jolla, California on January 26, 2017
'I saw the news, I only feel compassion for the guy. I think he's a good person, and it's kind of sad,' Cori Rist told the New York Post on Monday, just hours after Woods' 3am arrest.
The two met in 2006 at a night club, and went on to sleep together for about six months while Woods was still married to Elin Nordegren. Rist said Woods never had problems with drugs or alcohol when they were together.
'I think he’s a good person, and clearly he’s a good father, and he’s going through a difficult time, and I think people should offer support instead of applauding his downfall,' Rist, a former lingerie model, said.
'I just wish him the best, and I hope to see a good outcome from all of this, and I think he’ll be OK.'
Woods was arrested early Monday morning in Florida on a charge of driving under the influence.
The 41-year-old golfer was arrested around 3am on Military Trail, south of Indian Creek Parkway in Jupiter.
Arrest information from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office shows Woods was booked into jail at 7:18am and then released on his own recognizance at 10:50am, meaning he did not have to post bail.
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Tiger Woods of the United States walks alongside his girlfriend Lindsey Vonn, son Charlie and daughter Sam and friend Mark O'Meara during the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in 2015
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TIGER'S $20M NIGHT OF SHAME
Tiger Woods could lose hundreds of millions of dollars following his early morning DUI arrest in Florida, claim sports experts.
The fallen golfing star currently earns $45.5M-a-year alone in sponsorship money - including more than $20m from his mega-bucks Nike contract - but following his latest public humiliation many expect the 41-year-old to be dropped.
Despite standing by him following his much publicized marriage breakup amid rampant infidelity and subsequent loss of form, observers expect backers such as Rolex and Bridgestone to re-examine their relationship with the 14-time Major winner.
According to Forbes , Woods' major backers are Nike Golf, who signed the then 20-year-old would-be megastar in 1996.
Lucrative: Tiger Woods is backed by Rolex (left) and Indian motorcycle maker Hero - but faces a nervy wait to see if they continue to endorse him
Their relationship has survived his Thanksgiving Day scandal in 2009 when he crashed his car fleeing his home following a National Enquirer story that revealed his affairs and ended his marriage.
Other big money backers of the sportsman are Bridgestone Golf who he has signed a golf ball deal with and TaylorMade Golf, who provide him with clubs.
In addition, he has lucrative deals with Rolex, Japanese pharmaceutical company Kowa and Indian motorcycle maker Hero.
Forbes predicts that following this latest debacle Woods will lose at least three of his big-name contracts and can expect to see his income drop by at least $20m-per-year.
However, they claim that his key endorsement from Nike will probably survive due to the length of their relationship, but they would also not be surprised if they dumped him after two decades.
These endorsements bring in almost $50m-a-year but pale in comparison to his earnings before his first fall from grace.
Before 2009 Woods earned nearly $100m-a-year from mega-endorsements such as AT&T and of course Nike, but following the revelations about cheating on Elin - mother of his two children - this dropped to $70m in 2010.
And according to Forbes, his current earnings before this Memorial Weekend are HALF of what they were in 2009.
While a lot of that is due to his failure to add to his 14 Majors since 2008, Woods has also become far more expendable despite bringing fabulous wealth and attention to the game over the past 20-years.
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Tiger Woods could lose hundreds of millions of dollars following his early morning DUI arrest in Florida, claim sports experts.
The fallen golfing star currently earns $45.5M-a-year alone in sponsorship money - including more than $20m from his mega-bucks Nike contract - but following his latest public humiliation many expect the 41-year-old to be dropped.
Despite standing by him following his much publicized marriage breakup amid rampant infidelity and subsequent loss of form, observers expect backers such as Rolex and Bridgestone to re-examine their relationship with the 14-time Major winner.
According to Forbes , Woods' major backers are Nike Golf, who signed the then 20-year-old would-be megastar in 1996.
Lucrative: Tiger Woods is backed by Rolex (left) and Indian motorcycle maker Hero - but faces a nervy wait to see if they continue to endorse him
Their relationship has survived his Thanksgiving Day scandal in 2009 when he crashed his car fleeing his home following a National Enquirer story that revealed his affairs and ended his marriage.
Other big money backers of the sportsman are Bridgestone Golf who he has signed a golf ball deal with and TaylorMade Golf, who provide him with clubs.
In addition, he has lucrative deals with Rolex, Japanese pharmaceutical company Kowa and Indian motorcycle maker Hero.
Forbes predicts that following this latest debacle Woods will lose at least three of his big-name contracts and can expect to see his income drop by at least $20m-per-year.
However, they claim that his key endorsement from Nike will probably survive due to the length of their relationship, but they would also not be surprised if they dumped him after two decades.
These endorsements bring in almost $50m-a-year but pale in comparison to his earnings before his first fall from grace.
Before 2009 Woods earned nearly $100m-a-year from mega-endorsements such as AT&T and of course Nike, but following the revelations about cheating on Elin - mother of his two children - this dropped to $70m in 2010.
And according to Forbes, his current earnings before this Memorial Weekend are HALF of what they were in 2009.
While a lot of that is due to his failure to add to his 14 Majors since 2008, Woods has also become far more expendable despite bringing fabulous wealth and attention to the game over the past 20-years.
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He faces a charge of driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. Police have yet to specify which, if not both, though more details are set to be released on Tuesday.
Woods lives in the elite enclave of Jupiter Island, but was driving southbound, away from his home at the time. He was about seven to 10 minutes from The Woods, a restaurant he owns in the area.
Sources tell TMZ that Woods was 'driving erratically, all over the road'.
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Before the split: Tiger Woods his daugher, Sam, and then-wife, Elin Nordegren, stand on the sidelines before the Cardinal game against the California Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 21, 2009 in Palo Alto
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Woods was arrested in Jupiter, Florida around 3am - not far from his mansion in the elite enclave of Jupiter Island
When they pulled him over, the officer smelled alcohol on Woods' breath and said Woods became 'arrogant'.
The officer asked Woods to blow into a breathalyzer and he refused, which in Florida results in an automatic DUI arrest and license suspension.
The source added that Woods' team has been calling the police department all morning, asking if the cop had a body cam.
TMZ reports that Woods was driving a 2015 Mercedes, and that cops were planning to tow the vehicle before a friend retrieved it.
This is the second time that Woods has been caught driving under the influence.
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Woods was about seven to 10 minutes away from the restaurant he owns, The Woods, at the time of his arrest
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The Woods was closed on Monday for a private event, according to this sign on the exterior
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The golf legend was pulled over by cops at 3am on this section of road, around a 10-minute drive from his restaurants
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Woods lives in the elite enclave of Jupiter Island, but was driving southbound, away from his home at the time. He was about seven to 10 minutes from The Woods, a restaurant he owns in the area.
Sources tell TMZ that Woods was 'driving erratically, all over the road'.
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Before the split: Tiger Woods his daugher, Sam, and then-wife, Elin Nordegren, stand on the sidelines before the Cardinal game against the California Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 21, 2009 in Palo Alto
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Woods was arrested in Jupiter, Florida around 3am - not far from his mansion in the elite enclave of Jupiter Island
When they pulled him over, the officer smelled alcohol on Woods' breath and said Woods became 'arrogant'.
The officer asked Woods to blow into a breathalyzer and he refused, which in Florida results in an automatic DUI arrest and license suspension.
The source added that Woods' team has been calling the police department all morning, asking if the cop had a body cam.
TMZ reports that Woods was driving a 2015 Mercedes, and that cops were planning to tow the vehicle before a friend retrieved it.
This is the second time that Woods has been caught driving under the influence.
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Woods was about seven to 10 minutes away from the restaurant he owns, The Woods, at the time of his arrest
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The Woods was closed on Monday for a private event, according to this sign on the exterior
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The golf legend was pulled over by cops at 3am on this section of road, around a 10-minute drive from his restaurants
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In November 2009, two days after the National Enquirer broke the story that Woods had been cheating on his then-wife Elin Nordegren with a New York City nightclub manager, Woods left home after taking an Ambien and crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant, a tree and several hedges. However, he wasn't charged in that incident.
Following that incident, several other women came forward, saying they too had affairs with the professional golfer - tarnishing his previously pristine image.
A month later, he entered a 45-day therapy program and apologized for his actions, saying: 'I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to'.
Woods and Nordegren divorced a little less than a year later, in August 2010. The former couple have two kids together - a daughter named Sam, born in 2007, and a son named Charlie, born in 2009.
.Since the scandal, Woods' career has been in a free fall as he's failed to remain a major competitor and advertisers have stopped sponsoring him. The 14-time major winner, and former world number one, has dropped to 876th in the world rankings after years of injury problems and has not played in any of the major tournaments for the past two years.
But he had fusion surgery to address the issue in April and said last week that he hasn't 'felt this good in years'.
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Woods' Escalade pictured above after he crashed it into a fire hydrant in 2009, while under the influence of Ambien
'My surgeon and physiotherapist say the operation was successful.
'It's just a matter of not screwing up and letting it fuse. I'm walking and doing my exercises, and taking my kids to and from school. All I can do is take it day by day. There's no hurry.
'But, I want to say unequivocally, I want to play professional golf again.
'Presently, I'm not looking ahead. I can't twist for another two and a half to three months. Right now, my sole focus is rehab and doing what the doctors tell me. I am concentrating on short-term goals,' he said in a statement on his website on Thursday.
Woods was reported to be worth $740million by Forbes in 2016, making $100million annually during his peak in the late 2000s and has earned a reported $1.4billion in prize money and endorsements since his career began.
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Following that incident, several other women came forward, saying they too had affairs with the professional golfer - tarnishing his previously pristine image.
A month later, he entered a 45-day therapy program and apologized for his actions, saying: 'I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to'.
Woods and Nordegren divorced a little less than a year later, in August 2010. The former couple have two kids together - a daughter named Sam, born in 2007, and a son named Charlie, born in 2009.
.Since the scandal, Woods' career has been in a free fall as he's failed to remain a major competitor and advertisers have stopped sponsoring him. The 14-time major winner, and former world number one, has dropped to 876th in the world rankings after years of injury problems and has not played in any of the major tournaments for the past two years.
But he had fusion surgery to address the issue in April and said last week that he hasn't 'felt this good in years'.
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Woods' Escalade pictured above after he crashed it into a fire hydrant in 2009, while under the influence of Ambien
'My surgeon and physiotherapist say the operation was successful.
'It's just a matter of not screwing up and letting it fuse. I'm walking and doing my exercises, and taking my kids to and from school. All I can do is take it day by day. There's no hurry.
'But, I want to say unequivocally, I want to play professional golf again.
'Presently, I'm not looking ahead. I can't twist for another two and a half to three months. Right now, my sole focus is rehab and doing what the doctors tell me. I am concentrating on short-term goals,' he said in a statement on his website on Thursday.
Woods was reported to be worth $740million by Forbes in 2016, making $100million annually during his peak in the late 2000s and has earned a reported $1.4billion in prize money and endorsements since his career began.
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A TIMELINE OF TIGER WOODS' CAREER
December 1994 - As a freshman at Stanford, Woods has surgery to remove two benign tumors and scar tissue in his left knee.
August 1996 - Woods wins third straight U.S. Amateur and turns professional the following week.
October 1996 - Woods wins the Las Vegas Invitational for his first PGA Tour victory in his fifth professional start.
April 1997 - Woods wins the Masters at age 21 with a record score (270) and a record margin of victory (12 shots) to become its youngest champion.
June 2000 - Woods wins the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by 15 shots, the largest margin in major championship history.
April 2001 - Woods wins the Masters to become the only player to hold all four professional majors at the same time.
December 2002 - Woods has surgery to remove fluid inside and outside his ACL in his left knee, and to remove benign cysts.
October 2004 - Woods marries Elin Nordegren.
June 2007 - His wife gives birth to their first child, a daughter Samantha, a day after Woods finishes runner-up in the U.S. Open.
July 2007 - Woods ruptures his ACL while running on a golf course after the British Open. He goes on to win five of his next six tournaments, including the PGA Championship.
April 2008 - Two days after a runner-up finish at the Masters, Woods has arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage.
May 2008 - Woods is advised weeks before the U.S. Open that because of two stress fractures in his left tibia, he should expect to be on crutches for three weeks and be out of golf for an additional three weeks.
June 2008 - Woods wins the U.S. Open in a playoff at Torrey Pines for his 14th major, four short of the record held by Jack Nicklaus. A week later, he has reconstructive surgery on his left knee to repair the ACL and is out for eight months.
February 2009 - His wife gives birth to their son, Charlie.
August 2009 - Woods loses a two-shot lead in the final round of the PGA Championship to Y.E. Yang, the first time he has lost a 54-hole lead in a major.
November 2009 - Woods crashes his SUV into a tree and a fire hydrant outside his Windermere, Florida, home. The next few weeks his personal life unravels amid reports of multiple extramarital affairs. He loses major sponsorship endorsements. He spends 45 days in a clinic and does not return to golf until the 2010 Masters.
August 2010 - His divorce from Nordegren is finalized.
May 2011 - Woods withdraws from The Players Championship after a 42 on the front nine and takes a break of nearly three months.
March 2012 - Woods wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational for his first PGA Tour victory since the scandal in his personal life.
August 2013 - Woods wins the Bridgestone Invitational for the eighth time, his 79th career victory, leaving him three short of the record held by Sam Snead.
April 2014 - Woods has back surgery a week before the Masters and misses Augusta National for the first time.
September 2015 - After missing the cut in three of the four majors, Woods has a second back surgery and hopes to return in early 2016.
October 2015 - Woods has another back surgery to relieve discomfort.
December 2016 - Woods competes for the first time in 15 months at the unofficial Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. He makes 24 birdies but finishes 15th out of 18 players.
February 2017 - Woods shoots 77 in the opening round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and withdraws the next day with back spasms.
April 2017 - Woods has his fourth back surgery to fuse discs in his lower back.
May 30, 2017 - Woods is arrested and briefly jailed in Jupiter, Florida, on suspicion of DUI.
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December 1994 - As a freshman at Stanford, Woods has surgery to remove two benign tumors and scar tissue in his left knee.
August 1996 - Woods wins third straight U.S. Amateur and turns professional the following week.
October 1996 - Woods wins the Las Vegas Invitational for his first PGA Tour victory in his fifth professional start.
April 1997 - Woods wins the Masters at age 21 with a record score (270) and a record margin of victory (12 shots) to become its youngest champion.
June 2000 - Woods wins the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by 15 shots, the largest margin in major championship history.
April 2001 - Woods wins the Masters to become the only player to hold all four professional majors at the same time.
December 2002 - Woods has surgery to remove fluid inside and outside his ACL in his left knee, and to remove benign cysts.
October 2004 - Woods marries Elin Nordegren.
June 2007 - His wife gives birth to their first child, a daughter Samantha, a day after Woods finishes runner-up in the U.S. Open.
July 2007 - Woods ruptures his ACL while running on a golf course after the British Open. He goes on to win five of his next six tournaments, including the PGA Championship.
April 2008 - Two days after a runner-up finish at the Masters, Woods has arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage.
May 2008 - Woods is advised weeks before the U.S. Open that because of two stress fractures in his left tibia, he should expect to be on crutches for three weeks and be out of golf for an additional three weeks.
June 2008 - Woods wins the U.S. Open in a playoff at Torrey Pines for his 14th major, four short of the record held by Jack Nicklaus. A week later, he has reconstructive surgery on his left knee to repair the ACL and is out for eight months.
February 2009 - His wife gives birth to their son, Charlie.
August 2009 - Woods loses a two-shot lead in the final round of the PGA Championship to Y.E. Yang, the first time he has lost a 54-hole lead in a major.
November 2009 - Woods crashes his SUV into a tree and a fire hydrant outside his Windermere, Florida, home. The next few weeks his personal life unravels amid reports of multiple extramarital affairs. He loses major sponsorship endorsements. He spends 45 days in a clinic and does not return to golf until the 2010 Masters.
August 2010 - His divorce from Nordegren is finalized.
May 2011 - Woods withdraws from The Players Championship after a 42 on the front nine and takes a break of nearly three months.
March 2012 - Woods wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational for his first PGA Tour victory since the scandal in his personal life.
August 2013 - Woods wins the Bridgestone Invitational for the eighth time, his 79th career victory, leaving him three short of the record held by Sam Snead.
April 2014 - Woods has back surgery a week before the Masters and misses Augusta National for the first time.
September 2015 - After missing the cut in three of the four majors, Woods has a second back surgery and hopes to return in early 2016.
October 2015 - Woods has another back surgery to relieve discomfort.
December 2016 - Woods competes for the first time in 15 months at the unofficial Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. He makes 24 birdies but finishes 15th out of 18 players.
February 2017 - Woods shoots 77 in the opening round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and withdraws the next day with back spasms.
April 2017 - Woods has his fourth back surgery to fuse discs in his lower back.
May 30, 2017 - Woods is arrested and briefly jailed in Jupiter, Florida, on suspicion of DUI.
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