Written by Bob Karig at ESPN.com
Tiger Woods said Monday he is getting “professional help” to deal with medications used for back pain and sleep issues.
The 14-time major champion, who is recovering from April 19 back surgery and on May 29 was arrested on DUI charges, tweeted the announcement on Monday.
By TW pic.twitter.com/AuX6PEgNQ1
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) June 19, 2017
Woods, 41, was asleep at the wheel of his car in the early-morning hours on Memorial Day. Later, in a statement, he said alcohol was not involved but that he had an “unexpected reaction” to prescription medication.
“I’m not at liberty to say where he is, but he is receiving in-patient treatment,” said Mark Steinberg, Woods’ agent, in a phone interview. “Tiger has been dealing with so much pain physically. And that leads to insomnia and sleep issues. This has been going on for a long time.”
Steinberg said the postponement of Woods’ July 5 arraignment to Aug. 9 had nothing to do with the decision or timing.
On May 24, in Woods’ first extensive comments since the fusion surgery, his fourth back surgery in just over three years, he explained in a website post that he had been dealing with nerve pain that caused quality-of-life issues.
“It is hard to express how much better I feel,” Woods wrote. “It was instant nerve relief. I haven’t felt this good in years.”
Five days later, Woods was observed by police pulled over near the side of a road some 9 miles from his home in Jupiter, Florida. He failed multiple field-sobriety tests but blew a 0.00 on a breathalyzer after being taken into custody.
“Was the night in question a tipping point?” Steinberg said. “He’s now gone and checked himself into a facility.
“He’s been in pain for so long. He’s had to handle the pain, which then potentially leads to the lack of sleep because you’re in so much pain.”
Asked about Woods’ comments on his website that he felt relief after the latest surgery, Steinberg said: “I don’t think you can put two and two together. It’s such a complicated state, such a complicated situation. If you’re in that much pain for so many years. … Tiger has been trying to figure out how to live a life and actually have a life. He is where he is right now. I’m glad he is taking responsibility.”
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