A history of Tiger Woods’ many controversies
Very few athletes will ever earn recognition as one of the “greats,” but it is a title rightfully earned by Eldrick Tont Woods. Better known as “Tiger,” Woods has broken countless records in professional golf, and continues to play on the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour at the age of 47. He is also tied for the most tour wins, and ranks second in men’s major championships; his career on the course has been nothing shy of illustrious.
Despite quickly becoming the best golfer in the world, Woods has had his share of personal problems that have made national news given his level of fame. The first incident came in late 2009, with a marital dispute and a serious car accident; the news cycle began with an article published in National Enquirer, which claimed that Woods had an affair with Rachel Uchitel, a New York City nightclub manager. The claims were denied, but were followed by Woods crashing his SUV into a fire hydrant and tree. Woods took full responsibility for the accident and praised his wife for helping him from the car. They would divorce less than a year later.
Woods went on to get involved in a relationship with Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, which lasted two years. He was then in an alleged relationship with stylist Kristin Smith, which lasted just shy of a year. He then most notably entered a relationship with restaurant manager Erica Herman, which was surrounded by controversy; Herman filed a suit against Woods, claiming she was owed $30 million following the breaching of an oral agreement.
In May 2017, Woods found his way into the headlines yet again after being arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Police found him asleep in his car, which was stopped in the middle of a traffic lane as the engine ran. Woods claimed that he took prescription pills and was unaware of how they may have interacted with one another. Two months later, the golf legend tweeted that he had completed an intensive program to resolve an unspecified issue.
Most recently, Woods survived yet another car accident in 2021; the single-vehicle collision took place in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, and left Woods with major injuries to his leg. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated that Woods’ SUV was traveling at over 80 miles per hour, nearly twice the speed limit. He would undergo several operations on his leg in order to regain function.
Despite all the problems that Woods has faced, he continues to play golf with the best of them. This being said, his level of play has dropped off tremendously, as he is currently ranked as number 997 in the world—a steep drop-off from his former top spot. The name he has made for himself allows him to play under strong media attention, but it truly is time for Woods to put away the clubs for good. Through several personal and legal issues, Woods has made himself notorious among sports fans and has lost sight of what his dream once was. He will forever be known as the world’s greatest golfer, but watching him limp to the green at this year’s Master’s tournament was nothing more than a reminder of a spotty past full of bad decisions.
Thumbnail Photo via Getty Images