Tiger Woods took to social media on Memorial Day to honor his late father, Earl Woods.
In his Instagram Story, the golfing icon shared, “My father was a Special Forces operator who served two tours in Vietnam and dedicated 20 years to service.”
He went on to express gratitude, saying, “To those like my father, we are all thankful for your sacrifice. Without them, we wouldn’t have the greatest country on earth.”
His girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, reposted his heartfelt message on her own page.
Earl, who played a significant role in shaping Tiger’s legendary golf career, passed away from a heart attack in May 2006 at the age of 74.
This tribute marks Tiger’s first post since his arrest for DUI in March. The 50-year-old golfer rolled his Land Rover on March 27 in Jupiter Island, Florida.
In recent years, he has been in several car incidents, including one where he clipped a pressure washer truck, which led to his vehicle overturning.
After that crash, Tiger was found crawling out of his car. Authorities noted signs of impairment, although a breathalyzer test came back negative.
He refused a urine test and faced charges for that refusal. A police report indicated that two pills—later identified as hydrocodone, a narcotic painkiller—were found in his pants pocket.
The mug shot from the incident reportedly showed his pupils as “bloodshot and glassy” and “extremely dilated.”
Body camera footage captured him yawning, hiccupping, and struggling with sobriety tests after his arrest. He was booked into the Martin County Jail and released the following day.
Facing charges of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, Tiger pleaded not guilty in court.
After his arrest, he mentioned on social media, “I have decided to step away for a period of time to undergo treatment and focus on my health.”
Tiger, who checked out from a rehabilitation facility in Zurich, Switzerland, returned to the United States earlier this month. He was spotted arriving in Palm Beach, Florida, after his rehab stay.
He emphasized, “This is what I need to do to prioritize my health and work towards a lasting recovery.”
Scheduled for a court appearance on July 7, Tiger had to provide prosecutors with his prescription records from around the time of the incident, as ruled by a judge in a recent court session.
A source mentioned that Tiger wishes to improve in all areas of his life following this challenging period.
