Tiger Woods’ Legacy at a Crossroads After Latest DUI Arrest

It is time to permanently take Tiger Woods off the pedestal.

Woods has often been given a pass for some of his miscues and personal failings, all because he used to be the best golfer on the planet.

Seven back surgeries and that major leg surgery have ensured that label will never again be the case.

That Tiger is long gone – like one of those prodigious drives he used to hit at Augusta.

We certainly can feel bad for the guy for having to endure that much physical pain.

In my view, having to undergo one back surgery would be one too many.

But Tiger is now 50 – and his latest DUI arrest displays he’s not acting that old.

Something about Tiger and vehicles just don’t mix.

Friday’s DUI arrest is No. 2 for Tiger and that’s not the type of thing you want to add on to.

His first one, in 2017, was also on Jupiter Island, Fla., and it was due to an abundance of prescription medications. Woods was found asleep in his car at 3:00 a.m. while it was on the road and the engine was running.

That’s a very, very bad DUI No. 1.

Since Woods didn’t have alcohol in his system on Friday, the assumption is that toxicology reports will again show heavy amounts of medication in his system.

Doctors and pharmacists are always quick to share with people how medications may affect them adversely.

The fact that Woods has had two of these incidents while driving vehicles is unacceptable. That’s putting a lot of innocent people in harm’s way in addition to himself.

That’s selfish, entitled and immature behavior. I guarantee you Woods didn’t only drive under the influence on just these two occasions.

Woods has been involved in two other car accidents, the worst being the one in 2021 near Los Angeles when he was reportedly going 80 miles per hour on a winding road.

He was badly hurt in the accident with the broken leg bone coming through the skin. He was quickly whisked into surgery.

That injury pretty much ended any chance of the formerly dominating Woods prowling on the golf course.

He famously won the Masters in 2019 after not winning a major for 11 years. It was his 15th major title. Everybody was on board that Woods could bottle up that performance and bring it out again at future majors.

But that ailing back wasn’t allowing Tiger to turn back the clock.

Who knew that the magnificent performance at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines was basically the top of the slope before the inevitable fall.

That five-day, 91-hole victory over Rocco Mediate when Woods played with two stress fractures in his left tibia was something to see up close.

Woods was often wincing after drives and other shots and somehow he kept pressing on. The birdie putt on 18 to force the playoff was amazing theater and a shot for the ages.

The following day, a Monday, Mediate was once again just one Woods’ missed putt away from winning his biggest title. Again, Woods knocked in the putt to force a 19th hole.

Tiger won the tournament on that next hole for his 14th career major at just age 32.

Two days later, Woods revealed he had played the tournament with a torn ACL in his left knee and would be undergoing reconstructive surgery.

Suddenly, a memorable performance became one of the best the sport has ever seen.

That Tiger, who wouldn’t submit to the pain and kept coming through to keep from losing is the one people want to remember.

They idolize the guy with five Green Jackets for winning the Masters, the dude who won four PGA Championships, three U.S. Opens and three Open Championships. The player who hunted people down on Sundays, the guy who hit amazing shots, the golfer who made tough putts look easy.

That’s the Woods people want in their image files, not a dude that is continually in the news for DUIs and other silly stuff.

That golfer we remember won’t be coming back. And entitlement only takes you so far.

We’ve reached that point. The pedestal no longer has room for Tiger to stand on it.