Evening Telegraph (First Edition)

Woods struggles to walk after being arrested

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POLICE footage shows Tiger Woods struggling to walk as he is arrested by officers who found the golf star asleep at the wheel of his running Mercedes.

The 14-time Major golf champion was apprehende­d for driving under the influence in Florida and blamed his state on an “unexpected reaction” to a mix of prescripti­on medicines.

Jupiter Police Department released dashboard footage of the former world No 1 failing to pass a sobriety test a short drive from his home. Patrolling police found his 2015 Mercedes AMG at the side of the road with its engine running and the indicators flashing in the early hours of Monday.

He is seen struggling to stay upright as he fails to walk barefoot in a straight line after getting out of the vehicle, which had flat tyres and damage which police say was recent.

The video also shows officers handcuffin­g Woods as he can barely keep his eyes open. As an officer moves a light in front of Woods’ face during the test, he fails to follow it with his eyes.

When the golfer is asked to recall his instructio­ns after being asked to say the alphabet, he tells an officer they are “not to sing the national anthem backwards”.

Officers described him as being co-operative despite his confused state and as having “slow, mumbled and slurred” speech.

Tests corroborat­ed Woods’ claim that he did not have alcohol in his system and, during the video, he is seen to explain that the only drugs he has taken are those he is prescribed.

Woods, recovering from surgery, apologised and said he took “full responsibi­lity” after spending nearly four hours in jail. “I want the public to know alcohol was not involved. What happened was a reaction to prescribed medication­s,” he said.

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