Tiger Woods was arrested Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing his Land Rover near his Jupiter Island home in Florida, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. when Woods was driving northbound on South Beach Road at high speed and attempted to pass a truck hauling a pressure cleaner that had slowed to turn into a driveway. Woods' SUV swerved to avoid the truck but clipped the back of the trailer, causing the Land Rover to flip on its side and slide down the road.
"They did several tests on him," Budensiek said. "Of course, he did explain the injuries and the surgeries that he had. We did take that into account, but they did do some in-depth roadside tests."
Woods, 50, climbed out through the passenger window following the crash. Both he and the other driver escaped injury. The golf legend was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
Investigators determined Woods showed signs of impairment, though his breathalyzer test didn't indicate alcohol involvement. Woods refused to submit to a urinalysis test for other substances.
"He is cooperative, but he was not trying to incriminate himself," Budensiek said. "So, he was careful in what he said and didn't say."
Regarding the crash's severity, Budensiek noted the 30-mile-per-hour speed limit in the area. "And when I show you the photos, they kind of speak for themselves," he said. "You can see where he clipped the back of the trailer. You can see where he rolled. And then as he decelerates, sliding down on the driver's door of the vehicle."
The sheriff emphasized how much worse the outcome could have been. "We would not be having a conversation saying there was no injuries," he said, referring to the potential for oncoming traffic.
President Donald Trump, describing Woods as a "close friend," reacted to the news during a media appearance in Miami. "I feel so badly. He's got some difficulty. There was an accident, and that's all I know. Very close friend of mine," Trump said, according to ABC News. "He's an amazing person, amazing man. But some difficulty."
This marks Woods' second DUI-related arrest. In May 2017, police found him asleep at the wheel of his running car in Jupiter, with two flat tires and front and rear bumper damage. Woods later attributed that incident to a bad mix of painkillers and pleaded guilty to reckless driving.
Woods has faced significant physical challenges in recent years. A February 2021 car crash outside Los Angeles left him with severe leg injuries, requiring multiple surgeries including rod placement in his tibia and screws and pins in his foot and ankle. He spent three weeks hospitalized following emergency surgery.
Reflecting on that earlier crash at the 2021 Hero World Challenge, Woods said, "I'm lucky to be alive and also have a limb." He revealed it was 50-50 whether part of his right leg might have been amputated.
Woods arrived at Martin County Jail at 3 p.m. Friday and was released on bail later that evening after serving the required eight-hour minimum stay under Florida law. The arrest comes as Woods had been considering a return to competition at the Masters, which begins April 9 at Augusta National Golf Club.