Tiger Woods‘ colleagues on the PGA tour are seemingly running out of patience with him following his recent crash and arrest for allegedly driving under the influence.
Although the golf icon escaped unscathed from the accident, PGA stars have called for him to take “accountability” and face “punishment,” while others called for him to step away from golf and focus on his recovery.
President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation with his friend, saying he feels “so badly” for Tiger Woods as he’s going through “some difficulty.”
PGA Stars Call On Tiger Woods To Step Up And Do Better
Several PGA stars have called for Tiger Woods to take “accountability” and do some inner work after he was involved in a rollover crash on Friday.
The incident marked his second DUI arrest and fourth public vehicle wreck, but his colleagues have called time on his behavior, suggesting he fights his “demons” now or something worse could happen down the line.
“I don’t like sugar-coating things, and the way I look at it, there’s got to be some sort of punishment or withdrawal or some sort of suspension from the game,” former PGA golfer Mark Lye said Saturday on “Fox & Friends Weekend.”
He added, “I’m just wondering where the discipline that he’s learned to convey on the golf course is [going to] take hold in his personal life. Obviously, he’s got demons going on. We all feel bad for Tiger, but you know something, there’s got to be accountability, and it’s got to happen soon.”
Lye went ahead to implore the PGA to take action against Woods, warning he’ll only “escape” punishment if nothing happens.
The Golf Legend May Have Been Under The Influence Of A ‘Medication Or Drug’
Woods was reportedly driving his posh Land Rover a few miles away from his Jupiter Island home when he tried to overtake a truck pulling a small trailer on a narrow stretch of South Beach Road with a speed limit of 30mph.
He then clipped the back of the trailer as the truck driver attempted to pull over, causing his vehicle to flip onto the driver’s side and slide across the road.
Florida authorities said he was under “some type of medication or drug” when the incident happened, and took him into custody, where he spent roughly 8 hours before he was released.
PGA Tour Announcer Says ‘Stepping Away Might Be The Best Thing’ For Tiger Woods
PGA Tour announcer Doug Bell also shared that the 50-year-old needs to take some time away from the game and focus on recovery.
“It’s troublesome to see what happened yesterday. It is a pattern that has developed,” Bell told the news outlet. “He’s dealing with something that we don’t know what’s going on inside his head, the pain that he’s in from all the surgeries.”
Doug added, “Maybe stepping away might be the best thing, but it’s hard to keep a man this competitive away from something that he loves so, so much.”
The Golfer Has A Long History Of Car Accidents
Law enforcement revealed that Woods appeared “lethargic” and showed “signs of impairment” following the accident. He took a breathalyzer test and was found to have a 0.00% BAC, but refused to take a urinalysis test.
He was then arrested and charged with driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. Both charges are misdemeanors.
Woods’ long history of vehicular incidents involves a November 2009 crash when he rammed his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree outside of his home near Orlando, Florida, per the New York Times. He was found to be guilty but didn’t face charges beyond a citation for careless driving.
Again, on May 29, 2017, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence as police found him asleep in his car while the engine was still running. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving but explained that the incident was an “unexpected reaction” to multiple prescription drugs he’d consumed.
In February 2021, he survived a fatal crash on a busy road near Los Angeles that almost resulted in the amputation of his right leg. Authorities said that there were no signs of impairment in that crash, and the golf icon was wearing his seat belt.
Tiger Woods To Reportedly Miss Out On Masters Tournament
Over the years, Woods’ accident-prone nature has impacted his health and career, as he has had to take time away to recover from surgeries.
President Donald Trump said he felt bad for him and suggested that he’s going through a rough patch, although it remains unclear what exactly.
“I feel so badly. He’s got some difficulty. There was an accident, and that’s all I know. A very close friend of mine. He’s an amazing person, an amazing man. But some difficulty,” Trump told reporters ahead of a speaking engagement in Miami.
Woods had managed to be steady since making a return to golf, but President Trump suggested that he would not make it for the 2026 Masters Tournament.
“I love Tiger, but he won’t be there. Well, he’ll be there, but he won’t be playing in it,” Trump said on Fox News’ “The Five.”