Tiger Woods is facing new scrutiny after his crash and DUI-related arrest last Friday, but an insider report is shedding light on one key question surrounding the golf legendâs behavior. Despite his history of driving incidents, Woods has reportedly refused to hire a personal driver, a decision that may appear surprising given his history behind the wheel.
With two arrests and other brushes with the law over his driving on his record, simply hiring a professional to drive him around would seem to solve a litany of problems for the 50-year-old Woods. Why wonât he do it? The reason certainly is not money. According to Forbes, with a net worth of $1.5 billion, Woods is one of only two active professional athletes to achieve billionaire status. NBA superstar LeBron James ($1.4 billion) is the other.
According to a source familiar with Woodsâ thinking who spoke to People for a report published Monday, the reasons center on Woodsâ desire for privacy and control, as well as his belief that he is still capable of driving himself safely.
Why Won’t Tiger Woods Hire His Own Private Driver?
Even though he now faces up to six months in jail if convicted on the DUI charge against him, and another two months for refusing to submit to a urine test for drugs other than alcohol after Fridayâs crash, Woods has been reluctant to allow a professional to chauffeur him, according to the People source.
The reason stems primarily from Woodsâ fiercely private nature, according to the report.
The winner of 15 major professional golf championships âdoesnât want anyone to watch over him or know what he is doing,â according to the source who spoke to People.
âHe is not a social butterfly and prefers to spend time at home with his kids, hitting balls or playing video games,â the People informant said. âHe despises public scrutiny.â
The report appears to indicate further concerns for Woods, who, according to a former Woods employee speaking to the Daily Mail newspaper over the weekend, has a reputation for hazardous driving, along with a local police response that has at times appeared deferential to the golf legend.
âThe guy is a terrible driver,â the ex-employee told the Mail. âHe drives like a bat out of hell very often on a road where lawn services are parked with heavy equipment. Iâve been with him in the car going 55 or 60 mph, driving past cops who donât seem to care.â
Woods Has Checkered Driving History
All of that may change with Woodsâ latest arrest. It appears that local police who once might have looked the other way have hit their limit of tolerance with the billionaire golferâs driving antics.
âWoods was previously involved in two other car accidents,â People recounted. âHe sustained serious injuries in a 2021 crash in Los Angeles that required surgery and was also involved in a separate incident in 2009, also near his Florida residence.â
In 2017, Woods was found asleep in his car and charged with DUI but âpleaded guilty to reckless driving, ultimately receiving a fine and one year of probation,â according to the report.
Woods issued a statement at that time blaming the incident on a combination of prescription medications, which may serve as another reason for hiring a professional driver.
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