The celebration of that chip-in at Augusta National’s 16th in 2005. His tears on the final green at Hoylake after winning the Open the following year, two months after the death of his father. Winning the US Open in 2008, when in such physical distress he barely had the use of his left leg.

In a parallel universe these would be the lingering snapshot memories of Tiger Woods but on Monday, regardless of all the glory and the 14 major titles, the image which will inevitably become a Tiger Woods reference for years to come arrived via a Florida police station. His face, bloated and disconsolate, said far more than the hardly insignificant cause of him being detained in the first place, an arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence.

There has been the chaos which engulfed his personal life in 2009 – and the cringe-inducing apology in front of a hand-picked audience. However, for all the turmoil, injury battles and loss of form, this has to be Woods’s lowest ebb. From sporting icon – and an individual who once prided himself on being in peak physical condition – to the subject of pity and ridicule while only 41.

In the book which chronicles his time coaching Woods, Hank Haney recalls the moment a famous rally driver entered into pre-arranged conversation with his star pupil on a range. Woods asked what the driver ate before races with the answer – something along the lines of fast food and fizzy juice – sufficient for the golfer to shut down the conversation. What, one wonders, would Woods think of himself a decade on when hauled into a cell.

Play Video 0:27 Tiger Woods arrested on drink-driving charges – video

There are a lot of elements that remain unknown. At base level, there should be no tears for someone if they get behind the wheel of a car when in no fit state to do so. Thankfully, and most importantly, nobody was hurt on account of Woods’s actions. This was at best stupidity, at worst the arrogance to which Woods once admitted with the acknowledgement: “I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to.”

What was telling on Monday was Notah Begay, Woods’s long-time friend and a Golf Channel analyst, stating his hope “changes” would now occur within Woods’s lifestyle. Begay will know the inside track far better than most. At the Dubai Desert Classic in February, from which Woods withdrew after 18 holes, it seemed to observers something was not right about his demeanour.

It is to be hoped the incident on Monday is a one-off and that there is not a more serious reason behind what happened but it is at best curious for Woods to be in this condition in the middle of the night when in the midst of recuperation from back surgery. His statement insisting this incident did not involve alcohol and was the outcome from a “reaction to prescribed medications” raises questions. Woods has spent much of his career battling serious injury. He will be well versed in matters of medicine. Why would such a reaction occur now?

In professional terms, it has long been impossible to foresee Woods winning majors again. Others in this sport have passed him by. And yet, reaching that 18-major haul of Jack Nicklaus apparently never consumed Woods anyway; his love of winning and competing meant he played for his own roll of honour, not to match that of others.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tiger Woods is overcome with emotion after winning the 2006 Open two months after his father’s death. Photograph: Robert Galbraith/Reuters

Therein lies the intrigue. When Woods gets to the stage where he cannot challenge for glory in the one thing which dominated his life almost from the moment he could walk – and he may well be there already – what fulfils him? His two children certainly consume so much of his time and thought, which is why Woods’s acute embarrassment at this latest incident will be with them in mind.

Tiger Woods: I am not perfect Read more

To scoff at Woods’s nadir misses the point of what joy he once brought to others. To discount that special talent, as so commonly displayed on the biggest stage, is horrendously short-sighted. If we are witnessing the unravelling of a sporting great, there is no reason to revel in it.

His brilliance was such that subsequent on-course toils were all the more galling. Woods’s prominence hauled golf into a new era. It attracted players, fans and commercial partners. Woods was one of the most prominent sports people in the world which, while not excusing poor behaviour, came with its own pressures and problems. Shooting 76 at Pebble Beach is now the least of his worries. A common misconception is sporting stars are somehow immune to personal struggles; routinely, they are more susceptible to them.

Once upon a time, Woods’s people would probably have been able to halt the play where his dishevelled face was broadcast across the globe. Even those powers, like Woods’s own, have diminished. This outcome, courtesy of the long arm of the law, is sad. The most extraordinary aspect of the Woods story, given the height of his one-time status, is that one of the emotions he now draws is pity.