Tiger Woods arrested for DUI after car crash: 15-time major winner rolled vehicle

Tiger Woods has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence amid his involvement in a rollover car crash in Jupiter Island, Florida, on Friday afternoon. Woods blew a 0.00 on an administered Breathalyzer but did “exemplify signs of impairment” at the scene and subsequently refused a urinalysis test, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.    

The accident occurred near 281 South Beach Road around 2 p.m. ET, police said.

A pick-up truck pulling a pressure cleaner on a trailer was headed Northbound, attempting to turn into a driveway when the driver saw a Land Rover speeding towards him, according to Budensiek. The truck was unable to get out of the way in time, and while the Land Rover that belonged to Woods tried to swerve to avoid collision at the last moment, it clipped the back end of the trailer and turned over onto the driver’s side.

Neither driver was injured at the scene, and no other passengers were in the vehicles. Woods was brought to Martin County Jail and placed under arrest for DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. He was booked at 3 p.m. and released after 11 p.m. on Friday after being detained for eight hours, as mandated by Florida law.

Woods, 50, crawled out of the passenger door of his vehicle with police initially recognizing signs of impairment. He explained to officers his string of injuries and surgeries and also submitted to “in-depth roadside tests.”

“He was lethargic on scene, but that was, we believe, because of what he was intoxicated on,” said Budensiek, who clarified that Woods was “not impaired by alcohol but rather some type of medication or drug.”

This is the fourth known car accident involving Woods since 2009.

In November 2009, Woods was cited for careless driving after crashing an SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree outside his then-home in Windermere.

Eight years later, in May 2017, he pled guilty to reckless driving after being arrested on a DUI charge in Jupiter when police found him asleep behind the wheel of a parked vehicle. 

In February 2021, Woods suffered severe leg injuries after being involved in a rollover car crash in Southern California. Authorities observed no evidence of impairment or intoxication. He subsequently underwent multiple surgeries and took nearly 10 months to recover before returning to golf.

Woods’ return to golf has been a significant storyline since he last played a tournament in July 2024 at The Open Championship.

The 15-time major champion had been recovering from a torn Achilles when he underwent back surgery in October 2025, his second inside the span of 13 months, to replace a collapsed lumbar disc. He played competitive golf for the first time since that surgery on Tuesday in the TGL Finals. Woods has gone under the knife seven times for his back since 2014.

There has been speculation that Woods could attempt to play in the 2026 Masters in two weeks, but he has yet to disclose his official status for the first major of the season.