Professional golfer Tiger Woods was released from a Martin County jail late Friday evening after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence following a two-vehicle collision on Jupiter Island. The 15-time major champion was detained after his Land Rover clipped a truck trailer and overturned on a residential road, with law enforcement officials reporting that the athlete exhibited significant signs of impairment despite testing negative for alcohol. Sheriff’s deputies confirmed that Woods was held in isolation for the state-mandated eight-hour period before posting bail, marking the second time in nine years the golfer has faced charges related to driving while impaired by non-alcoholic substances.
(With agency inputs)
Why was Tiger Woods arrested in Florida?
The arrest followed a crash just before 2 p.m. on a two-lane road with a 30 mph speed limit near Woods' residence. According to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, quoted by AP, Woods attempted to pass a pressure cleaner truck at a high rate of speed, swerved to avoid a collision, but clipped the back of the truck's trailer. The Land Rover subsequently rolled onto the driver's side. While Woods was not injured and cooperated with authorities, Budensiek told the AP that the golfer appeared lethargic and showed "signs of impairment". A Breathalyzer test returned a zero reading for alcohol, but Woods refused a urine test, leading to his arrest on suspicion of being under the influence of medication or drugs.What was Tiger Woods' previous DUI history?
This incident marks the second time Woods has been arrested for a DUI involving substances other than alcohol. In 2017, authorities found him asleep behind the wheel of a running vehicle with significant damage to the driver's side. At that time, Woods attributed his state to an adverse reaction to a mix of painkillers and subsequently pleaded guilty to reckless driving. Additionally, this is the fourth major car crash involving the golfer, including a 2021 high-speed SUV accident in Los Angeles that resulted in multiple leg and ankle injuries and nearly led to an amputation.How will the arrest affect Tiger Woods' golf career?
The arrest coincides with a critical period in Woods’ professional schedule as he was deciding whether to compete in the Masters, starting April 9. He was also scheduled to appear in Augusta on April 5 to unveil a golf course project with Masters chairman Fred Ridley. Furthermore, Woods is facing a "soft deadline" to accept the U.S. Ryder Cup captaincy for the 2027 matches in Ireland. Since his 2021 accident, Woods has played 11 tournaments, most recently competing in his indoor TGL league following a seventh back surgery in September 2024 and an Achilles tendon rupture in March 2025.(With agency inputs)
