Two-time major winner Martin Kaymer has defended Tiger Woods in the wake of the golfer’s arrest for DUI earlier this week, calling the American’s critics “nasty”.

Woods was found asleep at the wheel of his car in the early hours of Monday morning, near his home on Jupiter Island, Florida. Police confirmed he had no alcohol in his system, and Woods said he had had a reaction to prescription medications. Jupiter police later released footage of a drowsy Woods struggling to follow their instructions.

However, Kaymer believes the criticism Woods has received for the incident is unfair. “I find it so nasty that people just kick him while he’s already on the floor, and at the end of the day it’s just using someone else for your own sadness,” Kaymer said in a video posted to his Twitter page.

“Yes, he’s in the public eye, he’s in the spotlight a lot, so of course people will talk about him. But why so nasty? Why don’t you try to do the opposite and help him now in the way he inspired us? ... He inspired kids, teenagers; he inspired all of us.”



Woods has been plagued by injury in recent years and has not played in a tournament since February due to issues with his back. His last victory in a major came in 2008 at the US Open.

Kaymer won the US Open in 2014 and the PGA Championship in 2010. He added he hoped to compete against Woods in the future. “We all want to see him happier and hopefully one day see him play golf again,” said the German. “That’s my only wish.’’



Other golfers have offered support for Woods, including Jack Nicklaus. “I’m a friend of Tiger’s,” Nicklaus said on Tuesday. “I feel bad for him. He’s struggling ... He needs support from a lot of people. I’ll be one of them.”