Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TIGER ‘NEEDS LIFE CHANGE’
TIGER WOODS has been told his life needs “a new direction” after police revealed he was asleep with his car’s engine running when he was arrested in Florida. The former World No.1 issued a statement yesterday, insisting he had not been drinking. But the police report said Woods, 41, “had extremely slow and slurred speech” from a cocktail of four different painkillers. He was charged with driving under the influence, improper parking and will face court in July. His close friend Notah Begay III, who was arrested for a second time for DUI in 2000, said: “It’s embarrassing for Tiger. “These are the types of situations that can make a person realise there needs to be a new direction. There’s a lot of opportunity for things to improve from this point on.” Woods (above, in a police mugshot from Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office) issued his own statement, blaming the incident on a mix of prescription drugs. “I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved,” said the World No.876. “What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn’t realise the mix of medications had affected me so strongly. I would like to apologise 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.” Woods has not played since withdrawing from February’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic. He had surgery for back pains last month.