Tiger Woods arrested on DUI charge in Florida

Tiger Woods was arrested for driving under the influence early Monday near his home in Jupiter, Fla., according to an online Palm Beach County Police report.

The winner of 14 major championships who is recovering from back surgery in April was released on his own recognizance at 10:50 a.m. ET after spending several hours in jail. He was booked at 7:18 a.m.

Woods was taken into custody at 3 a.m., police spokeswoman Kristin Rightler told CNN.

Last week, Woods, 41, made his first public comments via his website since undergoing back surgery on April 19, a fusion in his lower back that will cause him to miss the rest of 2017 and means he is unlikely to partake in strenuous physical activity for months.

"It was instant nerve relief,'' Woods wrote. "I haven't felt this good in years.''

He also made clear he intends to return to professional golf.

"The long-term prognosis is positive,'' Woods said. "My surgeon and physiotherapist say the operation was successful. It's just a matter of not screwing up and letting it fuse. I'm walking and doing my exercises, and taking my kids to and from school. All I can do is take it day by day. There's no hurry.

"But, I want to say unequivocally, I want to play professional golf again.

"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.''

It was his fourth back surgery dating to 2014. Woods attempted a comeback after more than a year away late in 2016 but played in just three tournaments, missing the cut in January at the Farmers Insurance Open and then withdrawing after one round of a tournament in Dubai in February.

Since undergoing his first surgery on March 31, 2014, Woods has played just 19 worldwide events, with a single top 10 and seven missed cuts and three withdrawals.

His last tournament victory came at the 2013 WGC Bridgestone Invitational, his 79th career PGA Tour victory. He won the last of his 14 major titles at the 2008 U.S. Open.

Following that victory, Woods missed more than eight months due to ACL surgery on his left knee. And then several extra-marital affairs came to light, leading to a divorce from his wife, Elin, and a four-month absence from the game.

ESPN