Paul McGinley believes Tiger Woods might have caused his latest calamity by pushing himself too hard in a bid to play at the Masters.

Woods pleaded not guilty to a charge of Driving Under Influence (DUI) after crashing his Range Rover near his Florida base last Friday but he announced that he is taking a step back from public life ‘to seek treatment ... in order to work toward lasting recovery.'

A police report stated that Woods was in possession of two hydrocodone pills - an opioid used to treat pain - and that he'd admitted taking prescription medication that morning. And McGinley, the former Ryder Cup captain who will be commentating for Sky Sports on the Masters next week, has a theory on what could have been one of the factors behind Woods’ latest car crash.

McGinley said: “It is quite clear he was probably upping his medication in order to get ready for the Masters, trying to accelerate things, trying to put in the reps, trying to put in the practice to get to Augusta National and, obviously, he has flipped on the wrong side of it.”

Woods has a catalogue of dangerous car incidents to his name - hitting a fire hydrant in 2009, found asleep at the wheel after an “unexpected reaction” to precription drugs in 2017, and a near-fatal crash after speeding in 2021.

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McGinley insists he is not trying to make excuses for him, and he refutes suggestions that Tiger has been indulged by the sport for too long, considering his catalogue of controversial off-the-course issues.

McGinley went on: “I think he's been more criticised in the last week than he has done ever before over any kind of a scandal that he's been involved in. I think everybody realises this is the end of the road, this is the last chance saloon, and he's very fortunate that he's not in bigger trouble than he seems to be. A lot of people are running out of patience, including himself and his family, from what he has said. He realises the seriousness of the situation. It is a line in the sand.”

After denying the DUI charge, which followed an incident when he flipped his car on its side when trying to overtake a truck in a residential area of Jupiter Island, Woods released a statement on social media which outlined the steps he was taking to deal with his problems.

It read: “I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today. I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritise my well-being and work toward lasting recovery."

Woods had, apparently, been desperate to return to competitive golf at Augusta next week but McGinley is convinced the sport has seen the last of him as a competitor in elite ranks.

The popular Irishman explained: “He’s played so little golf in the last six or seven years and when he has played, he has not been on the pace. The big question is can he practise to the same intensity? And it’s quite clear he can’t do that. He’s having to rely so heavily on medication in order to do that.

“He is 50 years of age. His future in terms of winning Majors will be more focused on the Seniors Tour rather than the main tour."

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