Tiger Woods has been the subject of headlines as of late after his involvement in a rollover crash in Florida. The incident has put the golfer under intense public scrutiny, with many asking why he doesn’t have a driver despite several driving-related incidents. Despite this, a source says Woods still prefers not to hire a driver, prioritizing his privacy and control over his personal life.
Tiger Woods Protects His Personal Space
On March 27, Woods was involved in an accident in Florida, leaving his vehicle rolled on its side, as previously reported by The Blast. The golfer was reportedly attempting to pass a truck when the incident happened. Woods was charged with a DUI and property damage, and an additional misdemeanor charge for refusing to submit to a urinalysis. His breathalyzer results showed he wasn’t under the influence of alcohol.
Following the accident, a source is revealing the reason why Woods refuses to hire a driver. As the insider told PEOPLE, the sports icon values his privacy and “doesn’t want anyone to watch over him or know what he is doing.” Additionally, the source said Woods believes “he is fine to drive.”
The Golfer Reportedly ‘Despises’ The Public’s Attention
The insider also told the publication that Woods prefers to keep to himself and spend time with his family rather than socializing. “He is not a social butterfly and prefers to hang around his home with his kids, or hitting balls, or playing video games,” the source said, adding the golfer “despises public scrutiny.”
The source also talked about Woods’ relationship with Vanessa Trump, saying the two are a good match because of their similarities, including golf. Woods has two kids, Sam and Charlie, with his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren. Trump, meanwhile, has five children with her ex-husband, Donald Trump Jr., the eldest being daughter Kai, an avid golfer.
“Vanessa has settled right into their dating life due to the similarities in their current situations with kids, great weather out their door, golf in their lives, and school projects for their kids,” the insider claimed.
Tiger Woods’ Teammate Addressed The Incident
Kevin Kisner, Woods’ teammate in the Jupiter Links Golf Club of the TGL, has spoken out after the crash and shared that the golfer was “working hard on his game, trying to practice and get back in shape” before the incident happened.
“He signed up for the U.S. Senior Open yesterday. He was trying to do anything he could to come back and try and help our TGL team get ready, hopefully try and play the masters,” Kisner added, saying that the DUI was an “unfortunate incident.”
Kisner said that thankfully, everyone involved in the incident was left unscathed. “We can all move forward and hopefully help him get better,” he added.
The Golfer’s Peers React To His DUI
As previously reported by The Blast, Woods’ peers have shared their thoughts on his arrest, and while they are concerned for the golfer, at least one of them wants him to be held accountable for his actions. As golfer Mark Lye stated, Woods is battling “demons” but added, “There’s got to be some sort of punishment or withdrawal or some sort of suspension from the game.”
Irish pro golfer Paul McGinley described Woods as a “competitive animal,” and though he believes the incident will set him back, it won’t be the end of his career. “Once he deals with whatever issues he’s got going on at the moment, settles his life, and look at a new pathway, golf is certainly going to be part of that,” he said, per Sky Sports.
Golfer-turned-analyst Brandel Chamblee, on the other hand, is urging Woods to retire from golf, saying that he tends to push “beyond his physical limit” and ends up hurting himself. “Why would he need to play golf anymore? I think he should probably ask himself that. Consider not playing golf anymore,” Chamblee said.
Tiger Woods’ History Of Car Accidents
Woods has had a history of car accidents. In 2009, he crashed his vehicle into a tree and a fire hydrant in Florida. According to reports, alcohol wasn’t involved, and he was traveling at less than 33 mph when it occurred.
In 2017, the golfer was arrested on suspicion of DUI after he was discovered sleeping in his car with the engine still running. Again, alcohol wasn’t a factor, but a mixture of prescription medication was found in his system.
In 2021, Woods had a rollover crash in California, and he had to be extracted from the vehicle. He went into surgery for the fractures he sustained in his leg, and at one point, the doctors considered amputation. Fortunately, his leg was saved, and he went through extensive rehab to recover.
As of writing, Woods has not released a formal statement regarding his arrest or his participation in future tournaments.