Golfer Woods charged with DUI in Jupiter
Medication to blame, he says, and apologizes ‘with all my heart.’
JUPITER — The storied and troubled life of Tiger Woods now includes a DUI arrest.
Jupiter police stopped the golf legend and Jupiter Island resident around 3 a.m. Monday as he drove southbound on Military Trail south of Indian Creek Parkway, a police spokeswoman said.
In a statement sent Monday night to several media outlets, including the Associated Press, Woods s a i d a l c o h o l was n o t involved and blamed his arrest on “an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn’t realize the mix of medications had affected me so strongly.”
Eldrick Woods, 41, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail around 7 a.m. Monday and left on his own recognizance at around 11 a.m., jail records show.
In his statement Monday night, he said that “I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions.” He apologized “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 also said he cooperated with law enforcement and thanked Jupiter police and the Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s office for “their professionalism.”
The booking charges Woods with DUI-unlawful blood alcohol/ DUI, which could refer to either alcohol or drugs. Jupiter police spokeswoman Kristin Rightler said Monday before Woods’ statement that she did not know which and did not know what testing was done on the scene or at the jail. She also did not know if anyone else was in Woods’ car.
She said she has not seen a report, which she said wasn’t available because of the Memorial Day holiday but should be available some time today.
People listed on the internet as current or former managers, publicists and lawyers for Woods did not respond to inquiries.
On Monday afternoon, the intersection where Woods was stopped was mostly quiet except for television crews and their vehicles.
The scene of Woods’ arrest was in a southern direction away from both his private exclusive home near the beach in southern Martin County, and his corporate office and restaurant at