Greg Norman has joined a chorus of Australian golfers offering their support to embattled former world No.1 Tiger Woods.
Speaking at the US PGA Tour's Memorial Tournament in Ohio, 62-year-old Norman believes golf's current crop of stars would have shared in a "collective sigh" after 14-time major winner Woods' DUI arrest in Jupiter, Florida, on Monday.
The 41-year-old Woods, recovering from spinal fusion surgery in April, was found by Jupiter police asleep in a Mercedes-Benz at 3am and was arrested for driving under the influence and illegally parking.
Woods said in a statement he experienced an "unexpected reaction" to legal drugs and that alcohol was not involved.
His claim was supported by two breath tests showing Woods' blood alcohol content to be zero, according to a police report.
Queensland native Norman, who won the British Open in 1986 and 1993, said Woods' wellbeing was more important than his return to golf.
"I feel sorry for him and I do hope he gets himself to a better place in life because it's not about golf now, it's about life," Norman said.
"And when you have a certain responsibility, you've got to take that responsibility full on.
"Collectively, I think you'll hear that sigh in the locker room because nobody, nobody likes to see that happen to anybody."
Fellow Australian Jason Day said his first reaction was one of relief that close friend Woods wasn't injured.
"The biggest thing for me was he didn't get hurt," said Day.
"He's had four back surgeries and seven knee surgeries ... it's tough to see him go through this."
Day credits Woods' 79 PGA Tour career victories with inspiring the him to world No.1.
"The aura about the guy (is) so special," Day said.
"I miss that out here, because I really want to play against him at his best and I want him to be healthy."
Australia's 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott said: "I was surprised and a bit saddened to see it. Hopefully it's not a worse problem than it is."
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