Authorities said Woods showed signs of impairment, but alcohol was not detected after the Friday wreck on Jupiter Island.
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Tiger Woods was arrested Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence after his vehicle rolled onto its side in a crash on Jupiter Island near his home, authorities said, though deputies said the golf star was not injured.
Investigators said the crash happened just before 2 p.m. on South Beach Road, a narrow residential route on the barrier island where Woods lives. Sheriff John Budensiek said deputies were called in after local police at the scene believed the driver of the overturned Range Rover might be impaired. Woods later was booked on misdemeanor counts of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, placing one of the biggest names in sports back in legal trouble while his playing future already was uncertain.
Budensiek said a pickup truck pulling a pressure-cleaning trailer was heading north on South Beach Road and beginning to turn into a driveway when Woods approached from behind at high speed. The truck driver saw the SUV coming in a mirror and tried to move away, the sheriff said, but there was little room on the two-lane road and almost no shoulder. Woods then tried to avoid the truck, clipped the rear of the trailer and sent the Range Rover onto its side. After the crash, Woods, who was alone in the vehicle, crawled out through the passenger-side door. “This could have been a lot worse,” Budensiek said as deputies described a wreck that damaged both vehicles but left both drivers unharmed.
Authorities said Woods cooperated with investigators at the scene and later took a breath test that showed no alcohol in his system. Budensiek said Woods appeared “lethargic” and showed signs of impairment during the roadside investigation, leading deputies to believe some type of medication or drug may have been involved. The sheriff said no drugs or medication were found inside the vehicle, and he added that without a urine sample, investigators may never know exactly what caused the impairment they believed they saw. Woods refused a urine test, according to the sheriff, and that refusal led to the second charge. Florida law also required that Woods remain in custody for at least eight hours after the arrest before he could be released.
The crash revived painful memories of earlier traffic episodes in Woods’ life, especially because they have often come during fragile points in his career. In 2017, Woods was arrested in Palm Beach County in a case tied to prescription medications. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving. In 2021, Woods was badly hurt in a separate rollover crash in California that shattered parts of his right leg and ankle and forced another long recovery. That crash was not handled as an impaired-driving case, but it deepened questions about how long he could continue competing at the highest level. Since then, his schedule has remained limited as he has battled a long list of injuries and surgeries while trying to stay connected to the sport through selective appearances and off-course roles.
Friday’s arrest also landed at a sensitive moment for Woods professionally. The 15-time major champion had not fully committed to playing the Masters next month, though his status had become a focus of golf fans after a recent appearance in the tech-backed TGL league. Now the immediate questions are legal rather than competitive. Woods faces misdemeanor allegations, and investigators have already laid out a basic account of what happened on the road. The next steps are expected to include processing the charges, any court dates set by local authorities and possible public comment from Woods or his representatives. For now, the sheriff said the case rests on what deputies observed at the crash scene, the damage left behind and Woods’ refusal to provide the additional test investigators wanted.
The scene itself was unusually quiet for an incident involving one of the world’s most recognized athletes. Deputies said Woods stood outside the overturned SUV after climbing out, while the truck driver remained unhurt and officers worked through the crash investigation on the narrow road lined with large homes and driveways. Budensiek said Woods did not receive special treatment, though he was to be housed separately for safety reasons while in jail. The images of another damaged vehicle, another police response and another uncertain turn in Woods’ life quickly spread through the golf world, where his name still draws intense attention even when he is not playing. For a figure long defined by comebacks, Friday’s developments marked another abrupt setback.
The case remained active Friday evening, with Woods facing two misdemeanor charges and authorities expected to move next through the standard court process in Martin County.
Author note: Last updated March 27, 2026.