Woods blames meds for arrest

Golf great Tiger Woods has blamed a reaction to medication after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence in Jupiter, Florida.

Woods was charged yesterday and spent nearly four hours in a county jail before he was released.

Woods later made a statement via his Instagram account that ‘‘alcohol was not involved’’ and he had ‘‘an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications’’.

The 14-time major champion, who ranks second with his 79 career victories on the PGA Tour, has not played for four months while he recovers from a fourth back surgery.

Woods was arrested on suspicion of DUI (Driving Under Influence) about 3am Monday (local time) and taken to the Palm Beach County jail, Jupiter Police spokeswoman Kristin Rightler said. He was arrested on Military Trail, south of Indian Creek Parkway.

Jail records show that the 41-year-old was booked into Palm Beach County jail at 7.18am and released on his own recognisance at 10.50am. The jail released a booking photo of Woods in a white T-shirt.

Rightler said she did not have additional details about the circumstances leading to Woods’ arrest, nor did she have any information about whether the arrest involved drugs or alcohol.

Woods has not been seen at a golf tournament since he opened with a 77 at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, withdrawing the next day because of back spasms. He was in Los Angeles for the Genesis Open, run by his Tiger Woods Foundation, but he did not come to the course at Riviera because of his back.

He was at the Masters, but only to attend the dinner for past champions.

Woods, who had been world No 1 longer than any other golfer, has not been a factor since his last victory in August 2013 as he battled through back surgeries from a week before the 2014 Masters until his most recent operation to fuse disks in his lower back a month ago.

In an update Friday on his website, Woods said the fusion surgery provided instant relief and he hasn’t ‘‘felt this good in years’’.