Tiger Woods was released on bail on Friday, hours after his Land Rover was involved in a crash that left the vehicle overturned. The golf star was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to officials.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said Woods had been driving on a narrow two-lane road near his residence on Jupiter Island shortly before 2pm when the incident occurred. Authorities reported that the vehicle attempted to overtake a truck, clipped a trailer, veered off the roadway, and rolled onto its side.
The truck had reportedly been slowing to turn into a driveway when Woods approached at what the sheriff described as a “high rate of speed” on a road with a 30mph limit.
Woods, who was alone at the time, managed to exit the vehicle through the passenger side. Investigators said he showed signs of impairment and was subjected to roadside tests before being taken into custody.
Authorities confirmed that a breath test showed no alcohol in his system. Investigators believe the impairment may have been caused by medication or drugs.
No substances were found inside the vehicle. Woods refused to submit to a urinalysis test and was subsequently charged with DUI with property damage, as well as refusal to submit to a lawful test.
No injuries were reported. However, Sheriff Budensiek noted that the outcome could have been far more serious given the narrow nature of the road.
Donald Trump described Woods as a “close friend” and expressed concern upon hearing the news while speaking to reporters at a media gathering in Miami on Friday afternoon.
“I feel so badly,” Trump said. “He’s got some difficulty. There was an accident and that’s all I know. He’s a very close friend of mine … an amazing person, an amazing man.”
Woods confirmed last year that he was in a relationship with Trump’s former daughter-in-law, Vanessa Trump.
The incident marks the latest in a series of traffic-related events involving Woods.
In February 2021, he sustained serious injuries when his SUV veered off a coastal road in Los Angeles at high speed. The crash resulted in multiple leg and ankle injuries so severe that, he later revealed, doctors considered amputation.
In 2017, Woods was arrested on a DUI charge after police in south Florida found him asleep behind the wheel of a damaged vehicle. He later said he had taken a problematic combination of prescription medications and pleaded guilty to reckless driving.
A further incident occurred in 2009, when Woods crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree outside his home in Windermere, Florida, during the early hours of the morning.
Police said he was found injured in the street, while his then-wife, Elin Nordegren, told officers she had broken the rear window with a golf club to assist him.
The 50-year-old has competed on a limited schedule in recent years as he continues to recover from multiple injuries and surgeries, including a seventh back procedure and a ruptured Achilles tendon.
He has not competed in an official PGA Tour event since July 2024, although he appeared earlier this week in the TGL indoor league he co-founded with Rory McIlroy.
Woods has entered this year’s US Senior Open but has yet to confirm his participation. His availability for next month’s The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club also remains uncertain.
An 82-time winner on the PGA Tour, Woods is tied with Sam Snead for the most victories in tour history. He last secured a major title at the 2019 Masters, marking his fifth win at Augusta.
