Tiger Woods remains hopeful about making a comeback to professional golf despite the recent turmoil surrounding his DUI arrest, which sent shockwaves through the sports community.
The 50-year-old golfing icon found himself in legal trouble on March 27 after he lost control of his SUV while attempting a high-speed maneuver to overtake a truck and trailer on the exclusive roads of Jupiter Island. Upon arriving at the scene, police discovered two pills in his possession.
Woods faces charges of driving under the influence, causing property damage, and refusing to comply with a lawful test. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court on May 5 to address these charges.
Currently, Woods is reportedly in Zurich, Switzerland, where he is seeking professional treatment following the incident. Sources close to the situation informed the Daily Mail that Woods is making promising strides after undergoing intensive rehabilitation.
Amidst his recovery journey, there is buzz from a ‘golf insider’ who indicates that Woods is eager to return to the sport he loves once he completes his rehab. This determination signals his unwavering commitment to rekindling his illustrious golf career.
Speaking to People, the source said: ‘He knows he needs to beat his issues and also deal with the pain from not only playing golf but also from his regular fitness schedule.
Tiger Woods has not given up on his hopes of returning to golf despite his shock DUI arrest
The latest saga is the fourth time Woods has got himself in trouble behind the wheel of a car
‘People around him are supporting him, both personally and professionally. All of this is helping him deal with it enough to get through it.’
Meanwhile, another source told the same outlet that Woods ‘still has golf in him’, despite the concerning incident that unfolded in Jupiter Island, Florida.
‘He just wants to get better in all areas of his life,’ the source revealed to the outlet.
As Woods continues his road to recovery, girlfriend Vanessa Trump is said to be in full ‘support’ of the golf legend.
Another source, again speaking to People, revealed: ‘Tiger needed to do intensive therapy, and his girlfriend Vanessa has been in favor of it.
‘She still supports this and supports him. She loves him and knows that private treatment was necessary.’
They further claimed that the couple have a ‘strong bond’ and it was never in doubt that she would be there to support him on his road to recovery.
‘Vanessa suffered through some rough spots but has always been on his side even when she worried about him and softly mentioned that,’ they added.
Vanessa Trump is in full ‘support’ of Woods, 50, as he continues his treatment and rehab
Woods rolled his car near his Jupiter Island home in March, his fourth incident involving a car
Meanwhile, a source close to the 50-year-old recently revealed to the Daily Mail that Woods is showing encouraging signs after undergoing ‘intense treatment’ in rehab.
‘He’s got a pain management doctor who is helping him deal with his body pain without addictive opioids,’ the source told the Daily Mail. ‘He calls or Zooms a small number of people: Vanessa, his kids, Mark Steinberg.
‘He’s responding well to treatment, and Vanessa is very happy with what she’s hearing.’
Woods has been in a relationship for around 18 months with Vanessa, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.
There had been speculation that their relationship could be on the rocks after his arrest, but Vanessa rubbished that talk by throwing her support behind Woods on Instagram.
A week after his arrest, she shared a loved-up photo of them together on Instagram and wrote: ‘Love you’.
Woods had flirted with a stunning Masters comeback prior to his arrest, although the possibility of it coming to fruition was always extremely unlikely.
‘Tiger paid casual attention to the Masters, but is more focused on recovery,’ the source added. ‘He’s getting both physical and psychological attention.
Woods stands alongside his Range Rover SUV after clambering out of the passenger side
Woods previously revealed that he was battling to make it to the Masters, prior to his crash
‘It’s a 90-day program but he’s able to leave whenever he wants.’
Meanwhile, shortly before his DUI arrest, Woods had reiterated that he was battling to play at Augusta as he made his long-awaited return to golf at the finals of TGL.
‘I’ve been trying. It’s just this body doesn’t recover like when I was 24, 25. It doesn’t mean I’m not trying – I’ve been trying for a while,’ Woods admitted at the time.
‘I’ve had a couple of back injuries the past year that I’ve had to fight through and it’s taken some time. But I keep trying.
‘I want to play, I’ve loved the tournament, I’ve loved being there since I was 19 years old. So it’s meant a lot to me and my family over the years and I’m going to be there either way.’
The latest saga is the fourth time that Woods has been in trouble after being behind the wheel of a car.
He was arrested for another DUI in 2017 after police found him slumped in his car in Florida with five drugs in his system, including two painkillers.
Woods was later involved in a similar crash in 2021 in California, which shattered his right leg after he was trapped under the vehicle. He needed multiple surgeries in order to recover from his injuries.
Woods, 50, was detained on March 27 after flipping his SUV in Jupiter Island, Florida
He also crashed into a fire hydrant in November 2009 as he tried to flee his Florida home after wife Elin Nordegren discovered he had been having an affair. It sparked an unraveling of his reputation that he has never truly recovered from.
Although he passed a breathalyzer test at the scene of the crash, officers said he was traveling at ‘high speeds’ and ‘showed signs of impairment’ when he rolled his SUV last month, including ‘bloodshot and glassy’ eyes with ‘extremely dilated pupils.’
A deputy found two white pills on Woods, which have since been identified as the opioid hydrocodone. He later refused to take a urine test resulting in his arrest and has since pleaded not guilty to a DUI charge.
In bodycam footage, the five-time Masters winner told police that he was ‘hoping to’ play in the Masters – but that it ‘depends on y’all.’