Tiger Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence following a rollover crash on Jupiter Island, Florida on Friday afternoon, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.
Mr. Budensiek said Mr. Woods, driving a dark Land Rover SUV, allegedly clipped a pickup truck hauling a pressure cleaner. No one was injured in the crash. The driver of that vehicle told authorities that Mr. Woods collided with the rig after attempting to overtake the truck “at high speeds.” The Land Rover reportedly flipped onto its side and came to a stop.
Mr. Woods crawled out of the passenger window, but was unharmed. The pickup truck driver was not injured either.
When deputies arrived to the scene, they observed that Mr. Woods appeared impaired, and after taking roadside tests, was placed under arrest. Mr. Woods was taken to Martin County Jail, where the sheriff said he did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol. A breathalyzer was administered and did not show intoxication, however Mr. Woods refused to provide a urine sample, leading to the charges.
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A photo from WPTV at the scene showed the vehicle resting on its side.
The incident comes two days after Mr. Woods made his first competitive golf appearance in more than a year, playing in Match 2 of the TGL finals Tuesday night in Palm Beach Gardens. Mr. Woods, who had been sidelined by a ruptured Achilles tendon and back surgery in October, stepped in for teammate Kevin Kisner after Jupiter Links Golf Club lost Game 1 of the best-of-three series to Los Angeles Golf Club on Monday. His team fell 9-2 in the finale. After the match, Mr. Woods said he remained uncertain whether he would compete in the Masters on April 9.
Friday’s crash is not the first time Mr. Woods has made headlines behind the wheel. In the early morning hours of Nov. 27, 2009, he crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and a tree in a neighbor’s yard near his home in Windermere, Fla. The low-speed crash drew intense media attention and preceded revelations about his personal life, ultimately leading to a hiatus from professional golf. He was cited for careless driving.
In May 2017, Mr. Woods was found asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle in Palm Beach County and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He attributed the incident to an adverse reaction to prescription medications and later pleaded guilty to reckless driving, agreeing to pay a $250 fine and attend DUI school. No crash occurred.
The most serious incident came in February 2021, when Mr. Woods suffered severe leg injuries in a high-speed rollover crash in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., that required multiple surgeries and a prolonged rehabilitation process. Authorities said at the time there were no signs of impairment. The accident significantly impacted his ability to compete and set in motion the lengthy recovery that preceded his return to the TGL finals this week.
As of Friday afternoon, the cause of the crash, whether Mr. Woods suffered injuries and the full circumstances of what happened on Beach Road have not been officially confirmed. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating and will release additional details as they become available.
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