Hours after he was charged with driving under the influence on Monday, Tiger Woods issued a statement taking "full responsibility" for his actions and insisting alcohol was not involved.
Woods, 41, was arrested at 3 a.m. on Monday morning in Jupiter, Florida, and charged with DUI, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. He was released from jail around 11 a.m.
"I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions. I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved," Woods said in a statement. "What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn't realize the mix of medications had affected me so strongly."
"I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too," he continued. "I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again. I fully cooperated with law enforcement, and I would like to personally thank the representatives of the Jupiter Police Department and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office for their professionalism."
Woods is one of the greatest golfers of all time, having won 14 major championships. He turned pro at the age of 20, in 1996, and less than a year later captured his first major win at the Masters tournament. In recent years, however, Woods has been hobbled by injuries and hasn't won a tournament since 2013. He's undergone multiple back surgeries and hasn't played competitive golf since February, when he was forced to pull out of the Dubai Desert Classic, according to CNN.
His fourth and most recent back surgery was in April, The New York Times reported. "I haven't felt this good in years," Woods said following the procedure, which was expected to keep him off the golf course for six months.
With reporting from The Associated Press.
