A US golfer has been arrested in connection with a rollover crash in Florida, but there were no serious injuries.
Published March 28, 2026
Tiger Woods was released on bail late Friday, hours after he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after his Land Rover was pinned by a truck and overturned, authorities said.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said Woods was traveling at a “high rate of speed” on a residential street and showed “signs of impairment” after the crash, adding that investigators believe Woods was under the influence of some type of drug or narcotic.
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He said Woods was lethargic and consented to a breathalyzer test, which showed no signs of alcohol, but refused a urine test and was arrested.
The crash occurred just before 2pm (6pm GMT) not far from Jupiter Island, where Woods lives.
Woods was booked into the county jail in Stuart around 3 p.m. He was released on bail after eight hours, the minimum allowed by state law, Budensiek said.
Budensiek said Woods was not injured in the crash but was being held separately from the others at the jail.
He said Woods was driving on a two-lane road with a speed limit of 48 km/h (30 mph) when he tried to pass a pressure washer truck. He said authorities cannot determine how fast Woods was going.
Budensiek said the Land Rover swerved to avoid a collision as it passed the truck, but ended up clipping the rear end of the truck’s trailer. Woods’ car then rolled onto the driver’s side and he crawled out.
The sheriff said Woods was “cooperative but not trying to incriminate himself.”
He said Woods had the right to refuse a urine test and that authorities will “never have a definitive outcome as to what impaired Woods.”
It was the second time Woods, 50, was arrested for driving under the influence, rather than under the influence of alcohol. He said he mistakenly took painkillers when authorities found him asleep at the wheel of his car in 2017, with the engine still running and the driver’s side damaged. Woods later pleaded guilty to reckless driving.
This is also the fourth time Woods has been involved in a car accident, most recently in February 2021 when his SUV sped off a Los Angeles coastal road, causing multiple leg and ankle injuries. Woods later said doctors considered amputation.
He also suffered multiple injuries to his left knee and back during his golf career.
Woods returned from multiple back surgeries to win his 15th major at the 2019 Masters. His 82 titles on the PGA Tour are tied for the career record with Sam Snead. Since his accident in Los Angeles, he has played 11 tournaments without coming within 16 strokes of a winner, and was able to complete 72 holes in four of those events.
Friday’s arrest came as Woods was trying to determine whether he was fit enough to compete in the Masters, which begins April 9. Woods was also scheduled to be in Augusta, Georgia, on April 5 to announce golf course projects with Masters Chairman Fred Ridley.
Woods is just days away from the so-called “soft deadline” to decide whether he will be named captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland.
He was working toward a return to golf after undergoing his seventh hip surgery in September.
His last official tournament was the British Open in 2024. Woods tore his Achilles tendon in March 2025, which kept him off the course all season before undergoing back surgery. He was able to play in the indoor TGL Golf League on Tuesday night.
When asked about playing again at the Genesis Invitational near Los Angeles last month, Woods said, “I’m trying. If you say so.”
“Having a disc replaced was one thing…I had a fusion in my lower back and now I’m going to have a disc replaced, so that’s a big deal.”
