Stephen A. Smith urges Tiger Woods to avoid driving after 2017 DUI arrest

Commentator Stephen A. Smith called on Tiger Woods to cease driving following the golfer's DUI arrest in Florida, suggesting he use car services and speculating on pain medication issues.^[1]

"Compassion is running out for Tiger Woods... My brother, you got issues with drugs, and I personally suspect... that it’s pain meds. What I don’t understand is this tendency to get behind the damn wheel of a car," Smith said on his SiriusXM show on May 30, 2017.^[1] Woods, a 15-time major champion and five-time Masters winner from the United States,^[2] was arrested early on May 29, 2017, in Jupiter, Florida.^[3][4]

Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies found Woods asleep behind the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz, which was stopped across the center line on a road with the engine running, headlights on and brake engaged, traveling at 1-2 mph.^[3][4] He showed signs of impairment including slow speech, odor of alcohol (later ruled out), bloodshot eyes and failed field sobriety tests.^[3]

A breath test registered 0. 00 for alcohol. A subsequent blood test revealed hydrocodone, hydromorphone (its metabolite), alprazolam (Xanax) and THC in Woods' system.[4] According to the arrest affidavit, Woods told officers he had undergone multiple back surgeries and took prescription medications.[3] Woods later issued a statement attributing the incident to an unexpected reaction to prescribed drugs.[5]

On June 1, 2017, Woods entered a not guilty plea and was accepted into a pretrial intervention program. He completed the program in October 2017, after which charges were dropped.^[6]

Then-U.S. President Donald Trump described Woods as an "amazing guy" who "does have pain," noting in comments around the time that Woods lacked an alcohol problem.^[1]

Sources

1. Fox News, "Stephen A. Smith implores Tiger Woods: 'Stop getting behind the damn wheel'", May 30, 2017, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/stephen-a-smith-implores-tiger-woods-stop-getting-behind-the-damn-wheel
2. PGA Tour, "Tiger Woods player profile", accessed October 2024, https://www.pgatour.com/player/08793/tiger-woods
3. Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office via WPBF, "Tiger Woods DUI arrest affidavit", May 29, 2017, https://www.wpbf.com/article/tiger-woods-dui-arrest-affidavit-released/9668032
4. ESPN, "Tiger Woods' DUI toxicology report shows five drugs in system", June 1, 2017, https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/19474770/tiger-woods-test-shows-5-drugs-system-dui-arrest
5. PGA Tour, "Tiger Woods statement on DUI arrest", May 29, 2017, https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2017/05/29/tiger-woods-arrested-dui-florida-palm-beach-county
6. AP News, "Tiger Woods DUI charge dropped after intervention", October 27, 2017, https://apnews.com/article/4b5e1e2a3d4e5f6a7b8c9d0e1f2a3b4c