Tiger Woods arrested in Florida on DUI charge

Former world No 1 golfer arrested in Palm Beach, Florida.

Tiger Woods played the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on February 2, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Warren Little/Getty Images
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Tiger Woods was arrested early on Monday on a Drunk Under Influence (DUI) charge in Jupiter, Florida, and spent nearly four hours in a county jail before he was released.

Woods, the 14-time major champion who ranks second with his 79 career victories on the PGA Tour, has not played for four months. He is out for the rest of the season while he recovers from his fourth back surgery.

Woods was arrested on suspicion of DUI about 3am local time in a suburban area and taken to the Palm Beach County jail, Jupiter Police spokeswoman Kristin Rightler said.

He was arrested on Military Trail, south of Indian Creek Parkway.

Jail records show that 41-year-old former world No 1 was booked into Palm Beach County jail at 7.18 am and released on his own recognizance at 10.50am.

The jail released a booking photo of Woods in a white T-shirt.

Rightler said she did not have additional details about the circumstances leading to Woods’s arrest, nor did she have any information about whether the arrest involved drugs or alcohol. She said an arrest report may be available on Tuesday.

His agent at Excel Sports, Mark Steinberg, did not immediately respond to a voicemail from The Associated Press.

PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said the tour would have no comment.

Woods has not been seen at a golf tournament since he opened with a 77 at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, withdrawing the next day because of back spasms.

He was in Los Angeles for the Genesis Open, run by his Tiger Woods Foundation, but did not come to the course because of his back.

He was at the US Masters, but only to attend the dinner for past champions.

Woods, who had been No 1 longer than any other golfer, has not been a factor since his last victory in August 2013 as he battled through back surgeries from a week before the 2014 US Masters until his most recent operation to fuse disks in his lower back a month ago.

In an update on Friday on his website, Woods said the fusion surgery provided instant relief and he hasn’t “felt this good in years”.

* Associated Press

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