Tiger Woods' cascading pain problems undermine his iconic status

Here is a thought. Tiger Woods' huge hitting power when he was the world's best golfer was attained by putting an enormous amount of stress on his body. He is not a particularly tall man. But he hit the ball huge distances. He achieved it by a big turn in the backswing and a very coiled swing which unleased enormous speed on the downswing. 

All this over time stressed his back to the point where it damaged it badly causing a lot of pain. He had to have surgery on this back. More pain, more surgery and more painkillers which impaired his car driving which incidentally he insisted on doing himself because he decided that when he is driving he has - for a brief time - some personal privacy and solitude.

He could have afforded a full-time chauffer. Of course he could have because he is worth an estimated one billion US dollars.

But no he insisted on driving which resulted in car accidents which in turn damaged his right leg to the point where surgeons contemplated cutting it off! It was damaged that badly when he went off the road and rolled his car. 

The incident: Tiger Woods’ 2021 crash occurred when his SUV rolled over in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, leaving him with severe injuries, including multiple fractures to his right leg. He was trapped in the vehicle and required emergency surgery after being extracted. Authorities reported it as a single‑car collision, with no evidence of impairment. The crash left his career in jeopardy, though he later made a limited return to golf.

My guess (allegation) is that he fell asleep at the wheel because of the cocktail of painkillers he was taking at the time.

And his right leg plus his bad back cause him pain 24-7 it appears such that he continues to take addictive opioid painkillers 24-7 I suspect which impairs his driving skills to the point where he has been charged with DUI recently. He has pleaded not guilty and he is innocent until proven guilty.

But the point is that his golf swing and his fabulous skills (and massive success) have caused all these dire problems in his forced retirement and it will only get worse I predict as he gets older. It is one way traffic to a kind of pain-swamped hell in perpetuity I am sad to say for perhaps the world's greatest ever golfer.

He is paying a price that is too high. If he had had a smoother and less demanding golf swing in his heyday and hit the ball about 10% shorter he might have protected his back which would have prevented all this mayhem in relative old age. Yes, he may have won less tournaments but it would have been better for him overall.

His problems are self-inflicted. He is adored by kids. He is setting a bad example at the moment. He won't be able to fix the hellish pain problem going forward but he can stop driving for good whether he likes it or not. Just to try and repair is iconic image.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

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Brazilian Courts Gain Power to Order Shared Custody of Pets in Divorce

Brazil has taken a significant step in recognising the emotional importance of companion animals by granting courts the authority to order shared custody of pets when couples separate. The new federal law, approved in April 2026, responds to a growing number of disputes involving dogs, cats, and other domestic animals—now considered integral members of many Brazilian households.

Under the legislation, if a divorcing couple cannot reach an agreement on who keeps the pet, a judge may impose a joint‑custody arrangement. This can include alternating periods of care, shared financial responsibility for food, veterinary treatment, and other essential expenses, and even detailed schedules similar to those used in child‑custody cases.

Crucially, the law requires judges to consider the well‑being of the animal, assessing factors such as living conditions, time availability, and each partner’s caregiving history. Pets that have lived predominantly with the couple are treated as a form of shared property, but the law moves beyond a purely economic view by acknowledging their emotional significance.

There are important safeguards. Shared custody is prohibited if one partner has a criminal record or a history—or risk—of domestic violence. In such cases, courts may award exclusive custody to the safer environment to protect both the animal and the vulnerable partner.

Brazil is home to one of the world’s largest pet populations—estimated at more than 160 million animals—and lawmakers say the reform reflects modern family dynamics. With many couples choosing not to have children, pets often occupy a central emotional role, making separation disputes more complex.

By aligning itself with countries such as France and Spain, where pets are legally recognised as sentient beings, Brazil signals a broader cultural shift: animals are no longer viewed as mere possessions but as companions whose welfare deserves legal protection.

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P.S. Sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.