by Dena Leichnitz and Richard Cameron

Tiger Woods, 41, the Golden Boy of Golf who grew up playing the game, has been arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. At five years old he was already on the cover of Golf Digest.  At 16 when most people are excited about learning to drive, he was competing in his first (PGA) professional golf tournament. Tiger completely changed the game of golf – partially with regards to the fact that there were few notable black golfers before him.

Tiger is a champion of 14 major titles, but since his extra-marital affair and subsequent physical problems related to back surgery, his game and skills have diminished and in recent years has not been successful in qualifying for a number of major tournaments, the most recent being the Dubai Golf Classic in February.

His recent rankings indicate the degree to which his golfing abilities have plummeted. Woods is now ranked 876th in the world among touring professionals.

Woods was arrested earlier Monday morning on Military Trail, south of Indian Creek Parkway in Jupiter and released on his own recognizance.

The UK Daily Mail reports that when they pulled him (Woods) over, the officer smelled alcohol on Woods’ breath and said Woods became ‘arrogant’.  The officer asked Woods to blow into a breathalyzer and he refused, which in Florida results in an automatic DUI arrest and license suspension. Today’s will be Woods’ second DUI incident, but the first in which he has been charged.

Tiger has been out of the game for awhile, both in golf and in life.  The New York Post, quotes one of Woods’ former mistresses, “I saw the news, I only feel compassion for the guy. I think he’s a good person, and it’s kind of sad,” Cori Rist said on Monday, just hours after Woods’ 3 AM arrest.

From infidelity and the splitting up of his family in 2010 to this current charge, Woods’ life is seen by outsiders as on a downhill spiral.  He has even had to  give up up golf for while due to his back injuries but has declared he intends to get back into the game. “But I want to say unequivocally, I want to play professional golf again.”

Of the rehabilitation involved with the spinal fusion surgery he underwent, he stated just Thursday of last week, “presently, I’m not looking ahead. I can’t twist for another two and a half to three months. Right now, my sole focus is rehab and doing what the doctors tell me. I am concentrating on short-term goals”.