Golf

Tiger Woods sent a "dangerous and deadly message" to his fans when he decided to get behind the wheel after taking prescription medication ... this according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

MADD is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from impaired driving -- and clearly, they're unhappy with Tiger's excuse that he simply had an "unexpected reaction to prescribed medications."

"When athletes and celebrities who serve as role models, like Tiger Woods, allegedly make the decision to drive impaired, it sends a dangerous and deadly message," a MADD spokesperson tells TMZ Sports.

"There are no excuses to drive under the influence of any impairing substance, whether its alcohol or any legal or illegal impairing drugs."

5/30 -- Contrary to what law enforcement sources told us Monday, according to the police report Tiger did not have alcohol in his system and did not refuse a breathalyzer. He also was found stopped on the side of the road and not weaving.

And, according to the police report, Tiger was cooperative.

5:00 PM PT -- Tiger just released a statement ... "I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions. I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved. What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn't realize the mix of medications affected me so strongly."

Woods goes on ... "I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends, and the fans. I expect more from myself, too. I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again.

I fully cooperated with law enforcement, and I would like to personally thank the representatives of the Jupiter Police Dept. and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for their professionalism."

1:00 PM PT -- We've learned Tiger's girlfriend, Kristin Smith, learned about the arrest while shopping at a Neiman Marcus store in Dallas. Someone called her and, according to several eyewitnesses, "she went crazy" and said "I knew it, I knew it." We're told she began crying, then bought $5k worth of merchandise and left.

10:30 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... cops spotted Woods "driving erratically, all over the road" when they pulled him over. We're told the officer smelled alcohol on Woods' breath and at that point Woods became "arrogant." We're told the officer asked him to blow into a breathalyzer but he refused. In Florida that means automatic arrest and license suspension.

Our sources say Woods' people have been calling the police all morning asking if the cop had a body cam.

9:45 AM PT -- We're told Woods was driving a 2015 Mercedes. Cops called a tow yard to store the vehicle but then cancelled the call. Someone involved tells us a person in Woods' camp retrieved the vehicle.

9:40 AM PT -- Unclear if it's related, but Tiger had back surgery last month. As we reported, cops have not specified whether the DUI was for drugs, alcohol or both.

Tiger Woods has been arrested on DUI charges in Jupiter, Florida.

The golfer was stopped by cops early Monday morning for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was taken in around 3 AM and released from Palm Beach County Jail at 10:50 AM.

You'll recall ... when Tiger and then wife Elin Nordegren got into their blowout fight back in 2009, he hit a tree while allegedly driving under the influence of Ambien. He was not charged with DUI at the time.

Barack Obama's not just on vacation -- he's on the most EPIC vacay, and it's starting to feel like he's rubbing it in your face.

Prez 44 was celebrating and grinning Friday all over Scotland's St Andrews Golf Club ... birthplace of the sport he's apparently trying to turn pro in now. Based on his face, we'd say Barack was killing it on the Old Course.

He's made a point of hitting the links almost everywhere he's been since leaving office -- starting in Palm Springs and most recently in Italy. Gotta say ... no one in history's done retirement better.

Just to run down his passport stamps since January: Virgin Islands, French Polynesia, Italy, Germany, Scotland. PLUS the reported $60 mil he and Michelle are getting for their memoirs.

Barack Obama can't get enough of Tuscany -- or at least its killer golf courses, 'cause he's back driving the fairways.

Obama hit the links Tuesday at the Castiglion del Bosco Resort in Siena, Italy -- and looked focused on his form. Decent follow-through, too.

You'll recall ... the former Prez also got his golf on over the weekend. While Michelle's been taking in Italy's sights, shops and restaurants ... BO's all about honing his game on this vacay.

BTW ... the Castiglion resort is all about 2 things: golf and wine. Barack's choice is clear.

Aaron Rodgers was spotted at an L.A. golf course Thursday with a very attractive blonde -- and we're told it's "Baywatch" actress Kelly Rohrbach.

Just a few weeks after reports surfaced he split with longtime girlfriend Olivia Munn -- the Green Bay Packers quarterback hit up the Westchester Golf Course.

Witnesses tell us Rodgers and Rohrbach appeared to be holding hands and looked flirty -- until they noticed people watching them.

Both Rodgers and Rohrbach are avid golfers -- so maybe it was just a platonic trip to the links.

Then again, maybe not.

Matt Goggin wants justice for his broken golf clubs -- he's just afraid to demand it from United Airlines for fear of getting manhandled a la Dr. David Dao.

The Australian pro golfer's pissed off about 3 of his clubs getting snapped at the head. As he put it ... it's the first time in more than 20 years his gear got destroyed in flight.

Naturally, Goggin was looking to give someone an earful -- if only he had flown a different airline. He tweeted, "I was going to complain but I must admit I'm a little intimidated by @united."

He's obviously referring to the infamous video of Dao getting jacked up.

Lucky for Matt, TaylorMade Golf responded and promised to replace the clubs. As for United? Maybe they've just got bigger fish to fry.

How do golfers do Spring Break? They golf.

Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth linked up with fellow golf pros Smylie Kaufman and Justin Thomas for a guys trip to the Bahamas ... where they let loose, popped some beers and swung away.

The guys looked like they're having a blast ... but even though they APPEARED to be goofing around on the golf course, you KNOW things eventually got competitive.

Sergio Garcia says he was "disappointed" Dustin Johnson couldn't play in The Masters -- but says the fact the #1 player in the world pulled out doesn't take away from the sweetness of his victory.

Of course, Johnson suffered a back injury the night before the tournament and withdrew right before tee off. Some people say the fact Garcia won the tourney without the #1 player lessens the quality of the win.

But not Sergio.

Garcia admits it sucks Johnson couldn't play ... but says straight-up, "I don't think it takes anything away from the victory."

We also talk about how many fittings it took to get the rightsized green jacket -- and his golf outing with Michael Jordan.

Great news ... Otis Nixon is no longer missing!

The Woodstock Police Dept. in Georgia just announced, "Otis Nixon has been located and is safe. We appreciate the assistance from the public and media."

The 58-year-old former MLB star was reported missing on Saturday after he did not show up to a scheduled tee time at a golf course.

Amazing.

Emmitt Smith wanted to congratulate Sergio Garcia for winning The Masters this weekend -- so he tweeted at the golfer, "Way to persevere through a varsity."

For real.

Don't worry, Smith realized his mistake 15 hours later and followed up with a correction.

"Computer glitch adversity is the word I should've been used."

THE WORD I SHOULD'VE BEEN USED?!!

Emmitt can't catch a break.

Go Gators.

Adam Levine is taking his talents to the green -- the Maroon 5 singer just landed a golf show and we're told he's FIRED UP about it!

We're told Levine locked up a deal with Top Golf to host a project for their digital platforms (website, app, social media, etc.) and it'll feature Levine hitting balls with some of his famous pals.

The show is being called "Teeing Off with Adam Levine" and production is expected to begin soon.

One thing you can probably expect ... a cameo from his smokin' hot model wife, Behati Prinsloo, who's got a reputation for being one of the best female celebrity golfers in Hollywood.

It's official ... Dustin Johnson is OUT of the Masters.

The PGA superstar says he injured his back Wednesday falling down stairs at the house he's staying at near Augusta ... but tried to soldier through the pain Thursday morning.

Johnson is the #1 ranked player in the world and was the heavy favorite to win the tournament.

Johnson took some warm-up shots at the driving range -- but cut it short. He was seen holding his back in pain afterwards.

He even went to the 1st hole and tried to go -- but decided to throw in the towel.

Dustin Johnson is taking some cuts -- hoping he can fight through the pain and play at The Masters Thursday.

The 32-year-old says he injured his back Wednesday falling down stairs at the home he's staying at in Augusta and was unsure if he was going to have to withdraw from the tournament.

Johnson hit the range this morning and took some swings before cutting the session short and holding his back.

But a short time later, he grabbed his clubs and went back to the practice range. He clearly looks uncomfortable, but will try to tough it out.

Here's busty model Lindsey Pelas and her cleavage leaving The Nice Guy in Los Angeles and telling us exactly how she's gonna make the Masters hot this year ... as a caddie.

PGA rookie Grayson Murray asked Lindsay to caddie for him at Augusta via Twitter, she accepted, and when we got her out in L.A. she told us what's in store for the biggest event in golf.

Murray still has to qualify for the tourney, meaning he needs a good showing at this week's Houston Open, but let's be honest, we all want to see him get it done now.

Especially Tiger Woods.

Michael Jordan bets HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER HOLE when he golfs ... so says Charles Barkley.

Sir Chuck appeared on the 'Dan Patrick Show' and said he once saw MJ bet $300,000 on a put -- and that wasn't even out of the ordinary.

Charles says MJ has so much money, those kind of bets are chump change to him.

John Daly says he ain't buyin' The Rock's claim that he smacked a 490 YARD drive during a recent golf outing ... telling the movie star straight-up: PROVE IT!

After The Rock posted a yoked out pic of him on a golf course boasting about his nearly record-breaking shot, we went right to the PGA legend to get his reaction.

"Highly unlikely," Daly said ... but not impossible.

"Now, we know he's strong enough to do it and if I had that body, I'd be hitting it 490 yards myself ... but my motto is, 'I don't work out. I put out.'"

True.