Tiger Woods was released on bail after being charged with driving under the influence following a single-vehicle crash on a two-lane road near his Jupiter Island home on Friday evening, local authorities said.
Woods was arrested at the scene after his Land Rover rolled over when it clipped the rear of a truck’s trailer while overtaking. Neither Woods nor the truck driver were injured. Police described the 50-year-old as lethargic.
A breathalyzer administered at the Martin County Jail returned a reading of zero for alcohol. Investigators said they believed any signs of impairment were linked to drugs or medication. Woods refused a requested urine test. He faces charges of DUI, property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said DUI investigators observed signs of impairment and believed Woods was impaired by medication. The sheriff noted officers took into account Woods’s prior injuries and surgeries during more detailed roadside evaluations. “Mr. Woods did a breathalyzer test with triple zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urinary analysis test, he refused,” Budensiek said.
Under Florida law, Woods remained in custody for eight hours before being released on bond, officials added.
This is at least the third recent crash involving Woods. In February 2021 his car left a road in Los Angeles, causing serious leg and ankle injuries that he said nearly cost him his ability to walk. In 2017 he was involved in a DUI-related incident that he initially attributed to a mix of prescription medications; he later pleaded guilty to reckless driving.
The latest accident occurred after Woods had returned to competition earlier in the week for the first time in more than a year. He had expressed hope of being fit for the Masters next month.
US President Donald Trump, who is a friend and fellow golf enthusiast, commented that he was aware an accident had occurred and expressed concern for Woods, calling him an amazing person.
Woods’s public life has been marked by other high-profile incidents, including a 2009 crash outside his home followed by revelations about his private life, which he later acknowledged.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash and the alleged impairment.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery, Dmytro Hubenko