Tiger Woods Arrested for Alleged DUI After High-Speed Incident
Tiger Woods of the Jupiter Links Golf Club plays a shot from a bunker on the eighth hole, during final day of TGL golf tournament, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens Fla. Reinhold Matay/AP
JUPITER ISLAND, Fla. — On Friday, renowned golfer Tiger Woods was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence. The incident occurred when Woods’ Land Rover, reportedly traveling at a considerable speed on a residential road, collided with a truck and overturned.
According to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, Woods extricated himself from the vehicle without sustaining injuries. “He did exemplify signs of an impairment,” stated Budensiek, mentioning that authorities suspect Woods may have consumed “some type of medication or drug.” Woods consented to a Breathalyzer test, which showed no alcohol presence, but declined a urine test, resulting in his arrest.
Florida law mandates an eight-hour jail stay before bail can be posted. Sheriff Budensiek emphasized that the law would be applied impartially, irrespective of Woods’ fame. Woods was held in a separate facility to ensure his safety from other inmates.
This marks Woods’ second DUI arrest not involving alcohol. In a 2017 incident, Woods attributed his condition to a bad mix of painkillers, leading to a guilty plea for reckless driving.
President Trump, a close friend of Woods, commented from Miami on the situation, expressing sympathy: “I feel so badly. He’s got some difficulty,” Trump remarked.
The crash happened around 2 p.m., near Woods’ Jupiter Island residence. Woods’ vehicle reportedly attempted to pass a truck on a narrow, two-lane road, leading to the crash. Authorities have been unable to ascertain Woods’ speed at the time.
Despite being cooperative, Woods did not incriminate himself, refusing the urine test, which means authorities might not conclusively determine what substances, if any, impaired him.
As Woods contemplates his physical readiness for the upcoming Masters tournament, this incident adds to his existing challenges. He was also close to deciding on the U.S. Ryder Cup captaincy for 2027 and had been recovering from recent back surgery.
Woods’ most recent official tournament was the British Open in 2024, with a ruptured Achilles tendon in March 2025 sidelining him for the season. His involvement with the PGA Tour continues as he chairs the Future Competition Committee.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
