Golf legend Tiger Woods was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence Friday afternoon following a two-vehicle rollover crash on Jupiter Island. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Woods was taken into custody after investigators at the scene determined he showed significant signs of impairment.
The incident unfolded just before 2:00 p.m. on South Beach Road, approximately two and a half miles from where local authorities were stationed. According to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, the crash involved a dark-colored Land Rover driven by Woods and a pickup truck towing a pressure-cleaning trailer.
Witness accounts and preliminary investigations suggest the pickup truck was slowing down to turn into a driveway when Woods, traveling at high speeds, attempted to overtake the vehicle on the narrow, two-lane road.
In an effort to avoid a rear-end collision, Woods reportedly swerved at the last moment, clipping the back of the trailer. The impact caused the Land Rover to flip over, coming to rest on the driver’s side door.
Woods was able to crawl out of the vehicle through the passenger-side door. While neither Woods nor the driver of the pickup truck reported serious injuries, responding officers from the Jupiter Island Police Department immediately requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Office to conduct a DUI investigation.
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“Mr. Woods did exemplify signs of impairment,” Sheriff Budensiek told reporters during a Friday evening briefing. “They did several tests on him… we did take into account the injuries and the surgeries that he had.”
Following the roadside evaluation, Woods was transported to the Martin County Jail. Authorities stated that while a breathalyzer test resulted in “triple zeros”—indicating no alcohol was in his system—investigators remained suspicious of other intoxicating substances. Woods was charged with DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test after he declined to provide a urine sample for analysis.
This arrest follows a series of high-profile vehicular incidents for the 15-time major champion. In February 2021, Woods suffered catastrophic leg and ankle injuries after crashing an SUV at high speed in Los Angeles. He was also arrested in 2017 after being found asleep at the wheel of a parked car in Florida, an incident he later attributed to an adverse reaction to prescription medication.
The timing of the crash complicates Woods’ ongoing attempt to return to professional golf. He recently competed in his indoor TGL league and was in the process of recovering from his seventh back surgery, performed last September. He had not yet confirmed his status for the upcoming Masters tournament in April.
Under Florida law, Woods is required to be held at the Martin County Jail for a minimum of eight hours before he is eligible for release.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Tiger Woods was involved in a rollover car accident Friday afternoon in Martin County, Florida, according to local law enforcement. The crash took place shortly after 2:00 p.m. near the golfer’s primary residence on Jupiter Island. While the vehicle sustained significant damage, initial reports suggest the 15-time major champion may have avoided the worst.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the single-vehicle incident to media outlets but remained tight-lipped regarding the specific cause of the wreck. Although official details are currently sparse, a source cited by CBS 12 indicated that Woods did not sustain any life-threatening or serious injuries in the rollover.
As of Friday evening, representatives for Woods have been silent. His longtime manager at Excel Sports did not immediately return messages or texts seeking an update on the golfer’s condition or the circumstances surrounding the crash.
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This marks the third major driving incident for Woods. His most recent accident occurred in February 2021, when he veered off a steep coastal road in Los Angeles at high speeds. That crash resulted in devastating compound fractures to his right leg and ankle—injuries so severe that Woods later admitted doctors had discussed the possibility of amputation during his recovery.
The timing of Friday’s crash adds another layer of uncertainty to Woods’ professional future. He has spent the last several months rehabbing from a seventh back surgery performed in September. Before this latest incident, Woods had not yet confirmed whether he would be physically able to compete in the Masters, scheduled for April 9–12.
Authorities have not yet released the crash report or clarified if road conditions or speed played a factor in the vehicle flipping.
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