Trump expresses support for Tiger Woods following 2017 DUI arrest in Florida
Eldrick "Tiger" Woods, a 14-time major champion and five-time Masters winner, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on May 29, 2017, after his car was found stopped on the shoulder of Military Trail south of Grassy Branch Road in Jupiter, Florida.[1][2] A Florida Highway Patrol trooper discovered the single-vehicle incident at around 3:03 a.m., and Jupiter police officers conducted field sobriety tests, observing Woods sweating profusely, with bloodshot and sunken eyes, and lethargic movements.[1][2]
Officers found two white pills in Woods' pocket, later identified as hydrocodone and hydromorphone -- prescription painkillers. Woods told police he had experienced lower back pain for several years and took multiple prescription medications. A breath test at the scene registered 0.00 for both samples, but Woods declined a urine test, leading to an additional charge for refusal to submit to testing.[1][2] He was released from Palm Beach County jail later that morning on his own recognizance.
On May 30, 2017, then-U. 
S. President Donald Trump told the New York Post in an exclusive interview that he had spoken with Woods the previous evening and that the golfer was "doing great."[3] Trump described Woods as living "a life of pain" due to physical ailments including back and leg issues, adding, "He doesn't have an alcohol problem, but he does have pain."[3]
Woods later explained the incident as an unexpected reaction to prescription medications. In October 2017, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving and entered a pretrial diversion program, with the DUI charge dropped.[2]
Woods, who had undergone four back surgeries between 2014 and 2017, returned to competitive golf later that year but faced ongoing injury challenges.[1]
Sources
- ESPN
Title: Tiger Woods arrested for DUI in Florida
Publication date: May 29, 2017
https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/19451492/tiger-woods-arrested-dui-jupiter-fla - New York Times
Title: Tiger Woods Is Arrested on D.U.I. Charge After Car Crash in Florida
Publication date: May 29, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/29/sports/golf/tiger-woods-dui-arrest-florida.html - New York Post
Title: Trump: Tiger Woods doesn’t have an alcohol problem — he has pain
Publication date: May 30, 2017
https://nypost.com/2017/05/30/trump-tiger-woods-doesnt-have-an-alcohol-problem-he-has-pain/
