Tiger Woods’ humbling arrest footage released by Florida police
Police in Florida have released video footage of Tiger Woods’ DUI arrest earlier this week.
Officers on patrol early Monday (US time) noticed a Mercedes pulling awkwardly to the side of the road with the engine running, the brake lights on and a right-turn signal blinking.
Police reported that the front and rear left-hand tyres were flat, while the car also had fresh damage to the driver’s side.
The video shows officers approach the car and Woods, who didn’t know where he was.
The footage also shows Woods stumble and sway through a sobriety test before being arrested.
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The 41-year-old Woods, who in April underwent his fourth back surgery, said in a statement he experienced an “unexpected reaction” to legal drugs and that alcohol was not involved.
His claim was supported by two breath tests showing Woods’ blood alcohol content to be zero, according to the police report.
Woods, who had taken prescriptive drugs, is to be arraigned on July 5 in Palm Beach County court on the DUI charge.
‘I feel sorry for him’
Australian golfing great Greg Norman has joined a chorus of golfers offering their support to Woods.
Speaking at the US PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament in Ohio, Norman, 62, said golf’s current crop of stars would have shared in a “collective sigh” after 14-time major winner Woods’ arrest.
Queensland-native Norman, who won the British Open in 1986 and 1993, said Woods’ wellbeing was more important than his return to golf.
“I feel sorry for him and I do hope he gets himself to a better place in life because it’s not about golf now, it’s about life,” Norman said.
“And when you have a certain responsibility, you’ve got to take that responsibility full on.
“Collectively, I think you’ll hear that sigh in the locker room because nobody, nobody likes to see that happen to anybody.”
Tiger Woods has been in the public eye for more than 20 years.
Fellow Australian Jason Day said his first reaction was one of relief that close friend Woods wasn’t injured.
“The biggest thing for me was he didn’t get hurt,” said Day.
“He’s had four back surgeries and seven knee surgeries … it’s tough to see him go through this.”
Day credits Woods’ 79 PGA Tour career victories with inspiring him to reach the world No.1 spot.
“The aura about the guy (is) so special,” Day said.
“I miss that out here, because I really want to play against him at his best and I want him to be healthy.”
Australia’s 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott said: “I was surprised and a bit saddened to see it. Hopefully it’s not a worse problem than it is.”