Tiger Woods Was ‘Determined to Prove Himself’ and ‘Claim Another Masters Title’ Before DUI Arrest

Golf great Tiger Woods is heading off to rehab after his shameful DUI bust in Florida, causing concerned pals to breathe a sigh of relief — but some fear he may still be in danger and never recover from the damage done to his personal life and reputation, sources say.

The five-time Masters champ was cuffed after crawling from the wreckage of his flipped Land Rover on Jupiter Island on March 22, and a police report alleges that in 50-year-old Tiger’s left pant pocket were two hydrocodone pills, opioids typically used for chronic pain, according to The New York Post.

Arresting officers say when asked if he took any prescription meds, Tiger responded, “I take a few,” before adding that he had done so earlier that morning.

Investigators suspect Tiger — who’s endured agonizing knee and back injuries during his sports career — may have been under the influence of a medication or drug when his SUV clipped a truck and crashed.

The report alleges the “lethargic and slow” billionaire’s eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” and his pupils were “extremely dilated.”

Lawmen say Tiger, who was “sweating profusely,” denied taking any illicit substances and willingly underwent field sobriety tests — but refused a urinalysis after a breath test came back showing zero signs of booze.

The arrest report states that Tiger claims he’d gotten distracted from the road, while “looking down at his cell phone and changing the radio station.”

He was released on bail from Martin County Jail after a mandatory eight-hour hold, WPBF 25 News reported — but it remains to be seen if prosecutors will try to have him thrown behind bars.

Days later, Tiger pleaded not guilty to charges of misdemeanor DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, according to court documents. He released a statement acknowledging the “seriousness of the situation” he’s found himself in and said that he would “seek treatment” and focus on his health.

Yet the incident was far from Tiger’s first car crash. He smashed into a fire hydrant in Florida in 2009 — the same year the National Enquirer exclusively exposed the philanderer’s extramarital flings. Despite the horndog reportedly entering rehab to treat sex addiction, his teed-off wife, Elin Nordegren — mom of his daughter Sam, now 18, and son Charlie, 17 — still filed for divorce.

As the Enquirer also reported, Tiger was arrested for DUI in 2017 after falling asleep behind the wheel of his damaged parked car in the Sunshine State. He admitted to taking painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety meds, pleaded guilty to reckless driving, and agreed to complete a first-time DUI offender program to stay out of jail.

Then in 2021, Tiger careened down a California embankment, suffering a serious fracture to his right leg that kept him from pro golf for over a year. At the time, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department determined he had pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake in a moment of panic — but some fear that crash may have been an intentional suicide attempt.

An insider shares, “He’s put himself under so much pressure. After the 2021 incident, Tiger was determined to prove himself as this Mr. Invincible figure who could come back and claim another Masters title. But it’s dawned on him that he’s never going to achieve those levels again, and the ongoing physical recovery from that crash has taken a major toll both mentally and physically.

“He’s a guy with major demons and a tendency to fly off the deep end when he’s under stress, and it’s not a big surprise to the folks in his life that he’s slid off the rails again.”

Now, sources say the embarrassing new scandal could cause Tiger to lose at least $50 million in future endorsement deals — but it may cost him even more by potentially sabotaging his year-plus romance with Vanessa Trump, incurring the wrath of the Trump family, and impacting his relationship with aspiring golf champ Charlie, which could all make it more difficult for his wellness journey to stay on track.

President Donald Trump, who said he spoke to Tiger after his latest arrest, referred to his pal as “an amazing person” and alluded to his “difficulty,” per Fox News Digital. But behind the scenes, spies claim the perturbed POTUS has demanded that none of his grandchildren be driven anywhere by Tiger.

Sources also say 48-year-old Vanessa — former wife of Donald Trump Jr. — had delivered a rehab ultimatum by insisting Tiger get help or she’d walk.

What’s more, insiders dished to Rob Shuter that Don Jr. is furious and wants Tiger to steer clear of his and Vanessa’s kids — golfing daughters Kai, 18, and Chloe, 11, and sons Donald III, 17, Tristan, 14, and Spencer, 13.

Insiders tell the Enquirer that concerned Elin is offering her ex a shoulder to cry on. But some worry his personal demons could negatively affect his relationship with the son who adores him, causing Tiger to fight for the teen’s respect.

Worryingly, experts suggest Tiger’s very life could be at risk during this sensitive time.

Dr. Stuart Fischer, author of The Little Book of Big Medical Emergencies, warns that quitting certain prescription meds can be fraught with danger.

Fischer, who has not treated Tiger, explains, “When people are seriously addicted to narcotics, withdrawal can be as deadly as an overdose. The body becomes dependent on stimulation of the endorphin receptors in the brain — the so-called pleasure spots of the central nervous system. And when you take the drug away, the endorphins are no longer present to offset the heightened levels of adrenaline rushing through the body as part of withdrawal. That can cause a heart attack or stroke.”

Speaking of withdrawal, the doc adds, “It’s agony — one of the most horrifying conditions that I have ever seen the human in. It’s intense agitation, beyond anything anyone could conceive of.”