Tiger Woods’ Florida crash has taken a serious turn, with authorities confirming that the golf legend was arrested for driving under the influence following the rollover incident in Jupiter.
The arrest comes just hours after initial reports described a high-speed crash that left his vehicle flipped on its side, raising fresh concerns about the 50-year-old’s condition and judgment behind the wheel.
Highlights
- Tiger Woods was arrested for DUI after a high-speed crash caused his vehicle to roll over in Florida.
- Authorities said he appeared impaired and failed sobriety tests, though drinking was not detected.
- The arrest comes days after Woods returned to competition and began planning his comeback.
Tiger Woods has been arrested for driving under the influence amid his return to competitive golf
Image credits: James Gilbert/Getty Images
According to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, the crash unfolded shortly after 2 p.m. on a two-lane road when a pickup truck was attempting to turn into a driveway.
At that moment, Woods’ Range Rover “roared down the street at a high speed,” Budensiek said, leaving the other driver with little room to maneuver.
The pickup truck was unable to fully enter the driveway before Woods’ vehicle struck it, clipping the truck and causing the Range Rover to roll over onto the driver’s side.
Image credits: NBC News
Images from the scene showed the aftermath, with the vehicle tipped over and Woods, dressed in a blue shirt and shorts, climbing out through the passenger-side window before standing off to the side as deputies arrived.
Despite the severity of the crash, authorities said that neither Woods nor the driver of the pickup truck was injured.
Woods failed sobriety tests on the basis of being under the influence of medication
Image credits: David Cannon/Getty Images
Deputies on the scene quickly noticed that Woods “appeared impaired and lethargic,” according to law enforcement. He was subjected to a test to see if he had been drinking, which registered 0.00%.
Budensiek addressed the result during a press conference, stating that he believed Woods was not under the influence of alc*hol, but rather medication.
Officers proceeded with field sobriety tests, which Woods failed.
Image credits: WPLG Local 10
He was then placed under arrest and taken to a local station, where he refused to submit to a urine test. As a result, he was booked on charges of DUI and refusal to comply with urinalysis.
Under Florida law, Woods will be required to remain in custody for a minimum of eight hours before being eligible for bail.
The sheriff also noted that Woods told deputies he had undergone multiple surgeries, something authorities said they considered when evaluating his condition.
The arrest adds another chapter to a history that already includes similar incidents
Image credits: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
In 2017, Woods was arrested for DUI in the same area of Jupiter, Florida. At the time, body camera footage showed him struggling to maintain balance, leading to widespread concern.
He later issued a statement addressing the incident.
“I want the public to know that alc*hol was not involved. What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn’t realize the mix realize of medications affected me so strongly.”
Image credits: The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
That explanation now echoes in the current case, where authorities again pointed to medication rather than alc*hol as a possible factor.
The latest crash also comes just years after Woods’ 2021 rollover accident in Los Angeles County, where he suffered multiple injuries and nearly lost his leg.
At the time, LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva described the crash as a “pure accident” and said there was “no evidence of impairment,” though the decision not to test his blood drew criticism.
The timing of the arrest is particularly significant given where Woods stood in his career just days ago
Image credits: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
The athlete had been preparing for a return to competitive golf after recovering from back surgery in October 2025, along with other lingering injuries. In the weeks leading up to the crash, he had been actively training in Florida and rebuilding momentum.
On March 24, just three days before the incident, Woods competed for his Jupiter Links Golf Club team in the TGL championship finals against Los Angeles Golf Club. The appearance marked his first competitive outing since the 2024 Open Championship.
He had also been laying out plans for the months ahead, registering for the U.S. Senior Open and considering tune-up events such as the Insperity Invitational before the PGA Championship.
He had made it clear he still intended to compete at the highest level.
Image credits: kotarfordays
Image credits: OnChainCult
Image credits: jhawar_ayush
Image credits: greatsportsvid1
Image credits: Relentless24r
Image credits: TheDogeDispatch
Image credits: Aipromptslap
Image credits: kingdudu_
Image credits: TheAudacity_26
Image credits: OopnGoop
Image credits: musigwe
Image credits: libsecurity