Tiger Woods was involved in a rollover car crash in Florida on Friday afternoon and has subsequently been released on bail, following his arrest and charge for driving under the influence.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said the incident took place on Jupiter Island, in the same town where 50-year-old Woods lives, just after 2pm local time.
Authorities say it was a two-car collision, with Woods’ Land Rover clipping a pressure-washer vehicle at speed and flipping over, before skidding down the road on the driver’s side.
The golf icon was kept in jail for eight hours before being released on bond, with the Sheriff’s Office confirming he had been released in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Sheriff John Budensiek confirmed Woods has been charged with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test – offences which are not felonies. Budensiek also stated that there were no injuries from the crash and admitted “this could have been a lot worse”.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office was not immediately available for comment when contacted by The Independent.
Budensiek revealed that Woods refused to give a urine sample after passing a breathalyser test, leading authorities to suspect he was under the influence of a “medication or drug” as he tried “not to incriminate himself”. There were no medications in Woods’ car.
“ Our DUI investigators came to the scene here and Mr Woods did exemplify signs of impairment,” said Budensiek.
“They did several tests on him. He did explain the injuries and surgeries that he’s had and we did take that into account, but they did some in-depth roadside tests.
“And when it was determined, he was placed under arrest and taken to the Martin County jail. At the Martin County jail, and even on scene, we were really not suspicious of alcohol being involved in this case and that proved to be true.
“Mr Woods did a breathalyser test with triple zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urinary analysis test, he refused and so he has been charged with DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.”
Speaking about any injuries sustained by Woods, who was the only person in his vehicle, he added: “He was not injured. Again, he was lethargic on scene, but that we believe was because of what he was intoxicated on.”
Budensiek said the driver of the pressure-washer trucker “thankfully” emerged uninjured and expressed his relief that no passers-by were hurt in the incident.
He said: “This is a small two-lane road. Had somebody been moving in the opposite direction, we would not be having a conversation saying there were no injuries.”
US president Donald Trump commented on Woods’ crash and said he “feels so badly” for his close friend.
“He’s got some difficulty,” Trump said. “There was an accident and that’s all I know. He’s a very close friend of mine, he’s an amazing person, an amazing man. Some difficulty, I don’t want to talk about it.”
Woods was previously involved in a high-profile rollover crash in California in 2021, which left him with serious injuries. Authorities said he was driving at least twice the 45mph speed limit when he SUV struck a tree, causing the vehicle to fly through the air and land on its side.
At the 2021 Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Woods said: “I’m lucky to be alive and also have a limb,” revealing it was 50-50 as to whether part of his right leg would require amputation.
The American was also arrested for driving under the influence in Florida in 2017, after which he checked himself into a clinic for prescription medication.
In 2009, he crashed his car into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home in an incident that led to a spectacular unravelling of his private life.
Woods had been working his way back to golf from a seventh back surgery last September and his status for next month’s Masters remains unclear.
He admitted he got his “a*** kicked” after returning to golf in the TGL Finals (an indoor, virtual league) this week with his team Jupiter Links, who lost the Finals.
His last official tournament was The Open in 2024, before rupturing his Achilles tendon in March 2025 which that kept him off the course all season prior to back surgery.
And while the 15-time major champion has lifetime eligibility to play at the Masters, as a previous five-time winner of the green jacket, US president Trump suggested a decision had already been made.
“I love Tiger, but he won’t be there,” Trump said while appearing on “The Five” on FOX News. “He’ll be there, but he won’t be playing in it.”
