Featured Image Credit: Martin County Sheriff’s Office
Topics: Sport, Donald Trump, Crime, US News
Jen Thomas
Topics: Sport, Donald Trump, Crime, US News
Golf icon Tiger Woods claims to have called President Donald Trump on the phone in the moments after crashing his car, according to new bodycam footage.
The golfer clipped a truck and rolled over his SUV in Florida last Friday (March 27), and was then arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
Woods, 50, is seen hiccupping in the back of a police car, in the footage obtained by TMZ.
On Tuesday the star submitted a written plea of not guilty via his lawyers, and he was also charged with property damage and for refusing to submit to a lawful test.
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Police say Woods was found at the scene with two hydrocodone pills in his pockets, and they observed 'bloodshot and glassy eyes' and 'extremely dilated pupils,' and noted he was 'sweating profusely,' according to an arrest affidavit written by a Martin County Sheriff, reports CNBC.
He told the arresting officers that he had been on the phone to President Donald Trump, after he was heard saying "Thank you so much. All right. You got it. Bye,” as he walked over to the police.
It then appears he says "I was just talking to the president," to the sheriff.
TMZ alleges he then said to a man they identified as his manager that Trump was 'very apologetic for what he did last night.'
The outlet believes he is referring to an incident where the previous evening, Trump had told Fox News that Woods would not be playing in the Masters.
Prior to the crash, Woods had not made a statement either way about whether he was participating.
He is currently dating Trump’s former daughter-in-law, Vanessa Trump.
She was previously married to Donald Trump Jr.
He also told officers: "I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden... boom!" and also said he was attempting to change the radio station.
Following the crash, Trump told reporters that Woods is a 'very close friend' and he 'feels badly' for him.
The President said: "I feel so badly. He’s got some difficulty. There was an accident, and that’s all I know."
He added: "He’s an amazing person, amazing man, but some difficulty.”
The Daily Mail reports that Trump later said "I think he's doing great, he's doing good."
"He tested negative for alcohol, as you know, and he is under a tremendous physical pressure from his various ailments... the back and the leg," Trump said.
"He lives a life of pain. He has a lot of pain. He's an amazing guy. He's an amazing athlete. He does have pain. He doesn't have an alcohol problem, but he does have pain," insisted the president.
After the arrest, Woods released a statement saying he is seeking treatment.
The star said: “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.”
According to CNBC, Woods has been arrested several times for DUI.
Back in February 2021, Woods rolled over a different SUV in Southern California, and needed several surgeries to fix his badly injured leg.
Prior to that, in May 2017 he was arrested for DUI in Florida, and was found to have prescription drugs Vicodin, Dilaudid, Xanax, Ambien, and THC in his system after that arrest.