Donald Trump expressed his sorrow following the arrest of golf legend Tiger Woods, appearing unusually subdued when reporters approached him about the incident on Friday.
"I feel so badly," he stated. "Really close friend of mine, amazing person, amazing man. He's got some difficulty."
The former president, known for his typically forthright manner, declined to elaborate further on the matter.
"I don't want to talk about it," he added.
Trump's comments came just hours after he had publicly discussed Woods' chances of participating in the Masters tournament, before news of the Florida car crash emerged.
The golf icon was involved in a collision on Jupiter Island, Florida, after he attempted to pass a pick-up truck on the road.
Neither Woods nor the driver of the other vehicle sustained any injuries in the incident.
Donald Trump expressed his sorrow following the arrest of golf legend Tiger Woods, appearing unusually subdued when reporters approached him about the incident on Friday
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Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek held a press conference on Friday afternoon to address the crash and subsequent arrest of the 50-year-old.
Photographs from the scene show Woods standing next to his damaged vehicle, with the golfer seen using his mobile phone whilst wearing a blue polo shirt.
Woods was subsequently charged with driving under the influence after he refused to submit a urine sample for testing.
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Tiger Woods pictured in his mugshot
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Notably, no alcohol was found in the golfer's system, though his decision not to undergo further analysis led to the DUI charge.
The Martin County Sheriff's Office has since released Woods' custody photograph, showing him in the same blue polo shirt he was wearing at the crash scene.
This latest incident represents another difficult chapter for the golf star, whose career has been marked by previous off-course troubles.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest remain under investigation by local authorities.
Tiger Woods' body has failed him in the twilight years of his golfing career | REUTERSWoods had only recently returned to competitive golf, representing Jupiter Links Golf Club in the TGL league against Los Angeles Golf Club earlier this week.
The 50-year-old's comeback to the sport now faces considerable uncertainty as he navigates these fresh legal challenges.
What the future holds for the golfing legend remains unclear, with the DUI charge adding to a history of off-course difficulties that have punctuated his otherwise remarkable career.
The arrest came at a particularly unfortunate moment, just as Woods appeared to be re-establishing himself in professional competition following his lengthy absence from the game.