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Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player know how golf works. The legendary duo has won nine green jackets among their 27 total major victories.
Tiger Woods has won the Masters five times and, although he will be absent from Augusta this year, he is still in the national spotlight following his arrest last month.
Amid a broken body, Woods underwent nearly 30 surgeries on his back and leg, and during his arrest for drunken driving, authorities said officers found pills identified as hydrocodone, a prescription opioid for pain.
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Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Gary Player attend the Past Champions Dinner before the 150th Open at the St. Andrews Old Course in Scotland on July 12, 2022. (Stuart Kerr/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
“Do I blame him for taking medication? Hell, no. He’s sleep deprived. Do I blame him for taking something to help him sleep? No,” Player said Thursday in Augusta, via ESPN.
But Player said Woods needs to be smarter in his decision-making.
“I don’t think he should drive a car. When you take this medicine, it’s dangerous when you drive a car, just like it’s dangerous when you look at your cell phone in the car.”
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To make matters worse, Woods admitted to authorities after the accident that he was looking at his phone. Woods pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence, but said he would “seek treatment” following his arrest.
Tiger Woods was sleepy after being arrested. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
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“My heart goes out to him,” Player said. “There’s nothing worse than living in pain every day of your life. You can’t think of anything worse. I just hope he can sort it all out because he’s a true asset to the game of golf and he’s done so much for the game.”
Nicklaus added: “Just whatever you need to help yourself and come back, because I think golf needs him, and we’d love to have him back.”
Woods was granted permission on April 1 to travel out of the country “to undergo full hospital treatment.” He is believed to be at a facility in Switzerland.
Tiger Woods underwent several exercises before being handcuffed. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
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Authorities said in a court order that a subpoena would be issued later this month for Woods’ prescription drug records from Jan. 1 through the day of his accident.
