NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player know everything about the sport of golf. The legendary duo combined for nine green jackets among their 27 total major wins.
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 after his arrest last month.
Amid a broken body, Woods underwent nearly 30 surgeries on his back and leg, and during his DUI arrest, authorities said officers found pills identified as hydrocodone, an opioid prescribed for painkillers.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Gary Player watch 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 when making decisions.
“I don’t think I should drive a car. When you’re on that medication, it’s dangerous when you’re driving a car, just like it’s dangerous when you look at your cell phone in the car.”
LISTEN TO THE CRIME AND JUSTICE PODCAST ON TIGER WOODS
To make matters worse, Woods admitted to authorities after the accident that he had been looking at his phone. Woods pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence, but announced he would “seek treatment” following his arrest.
Tiger Woods was sleepy after being arrested. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
MARK CALCAVECCHIA ALLEGEDLY CASTED FROM MASTERS AFTER BREAKING AUGUSTA’S STRICT NATIONAL TELEPHONE POLICY: REPORT
“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 figure it all out because he’s a great asset to golf and he’s done a lot for the game.”
Nicklaus added: “Anything you need to help you get back, because I think golf needs it and we would love to have it back.”
Woods was granted permission on April 1 to travel out of the country “to begin comprehensive hospital treatment.” It is believed to be in a facility in Switzerland.
Tiger Woods performed several exercises before being handcuffed. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
Authorities said in a court order that a subpoena will be issued later this month for Woods’ prescription drug records from Jan. 1 to the day of his accident.
