Tiger Woods can't beat addiction without owning it | Opinion

There's a stretch of the road leading to Jupiter Island , the Florida oceanfront town where Tiger Woods lives, that's lined on either side by banyan trees. The branches of these gnarly-looking trees hang over the roadway to create a sort of tunnel – almost like a wormhole into another dimension. That's fitting because venturing onto Jupiter Island feels like a trip into a different world.

Woods, whose legal troubles include a May 12 hearing over a pending DUI charge , lives in an idyllic place that's secluded from the reality most of us know. Its houses are shielded, partially or completely, from public roads by walls and lush tropical landscaping. The homes come in a variety of architectural styles, but all ooze wealth and privilege.

Small white placards mark the street numbers, sometimes including the names of either the property owners or their estates. There's a golf course, naturally, as well as tennis courts and other amenities. There isn't much commercial development on Jupiter Island.

The people who live there can afford to have groceries and other supplies delivered from outside the community. While past residents have included singer Celine Dion and other celebrities , many of the island's inhabitants have quietly amassed their fortunes outside the public eye. In this regard, Woods stands apart from his more below-the-radar neighbors.