Golf legend Tiger Woods faces misdemeanor DUI charges after a dramatic rollover crash on Friday afternoon on Jupiter Island, Florida, authorities confirmed. The 50-year-old was able to crawl from his overturned Range Rover through the passenger side door, but investigators say he exhibited clear signs of impairment at the scene.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said the incident unfolded shortly before 2 p.m. near 281 South Beach Road when Woods attempted to pass a truck pulling a pressure-cleaning trailer. According to investigators, Woods was traveling at high speed when he clipped the trailer’s rear end, causing his SUV to tip onto its driver’s side and slide along the pavement.
“As (the other vehicle) was trying to move to the side of the road, the Land Rover overtook him at the last minute, swerved to avoid a collision, but clipped the back end of the trailer of the pressure cleaner apparatus,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said during a Friday evening news conference.
Neither Woods nor the truck driver sustained injuries in the collision. However, deputies quickly determined something was amiss with the golf icon’s condition. The sheriff’s office administered a breathalyzer test, which Woods passed with what authorities described as “triple zeros,” indicating no alcohol in his system.
The situation escalated when investigators requested a urine test to check for drugs or medication. Woods refused, leading to a second charge: refusal to submit to a lawful test. Both charges are misdemeanors. Investigators believe medication may have caused the impairment, though authorities found no substances inside the vehicle.
The sheriff’s office noted that Woods discussed his extensive medical history and multiple surgeries with deputies during roadside testing. Budensiek described Woods as “cooperative, but he was not trying to incriminate himself.”
Florida law required Woods to remain in the Martin County Jail for a minimum of eight hours following the DUI charge. Authorities released him shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday night. No court date has been set as of Saturday afternoon.
The crash occurred on a narrow, two-lane roadway with a 30 mph speed limit and limited space for vehicles to maneuver. Sheriff Budensiek emphasized that the incident could have resulted in far more serious consequences if oncoming traffic had been present at the time of the collision.
President Donald Trump, who described himself as a close friend of Woods, responded to reporters in Miami on Friday. “I feel so badly. He’s got some difficulty. There was an accident and that’s all I know. Very close friend of mine,” the president said.
This marks the fourth vehicle-related incident involving Woods since 2009 and his second DUI arrest. In February 2021, the golfer suffered catastrophic injuries when his Genesis GV80 SUV rolled off a coastal road in Southern California. That crash resulted in multiple leg and ankle injuries so severe that Woods later said doctors considered amputation. Authorities determined that wreck was “purely an accident” with no evidence of impairment.
Woods spent three months in a hospital-type bed at his home during the rehabilitation process following the 2021 crash. He told Golf Digest the recovery period was among the most challenging of his career.
The 2017 incident in Jupiter, Florida, resulted in Woods being found asleep behind the wheel of his parked vehicle. He later attributed the incident to an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications and pleaded guilty to reckless driving.
Woods has battled numerous physical setbacks in recent years. He underwent his seventh back surgery in September and ruptured his Achilles tendon in March 2025, keeping him off the course for the entire season. His last official tournament appearance came at the 2024 British Open.
Just days before Friday’s crash, Woods competed in his indoor TGL golf league on Tuesday night, suggesting he was making progress in his latest comeback attempt. The 15-time major champion had not yet decided whether he would be healthy enough to compete in the Masters, scheduled for April 9-12.
Woods remains deeply involved in PGA Tour affairs as chairman of the Future Competition Committee, which is restructuring the tour’s competitive model. He also faces a soft deadline at the end of March to decide whether to accept the role of U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the 2027 matches in Ireland.
The winner of 82 PGA Tour events—tied with Sam Snead for the all-time record—now faces legal proceedings that could further complicate his already uncertain competitive future. Representatives for Woods did not immediately respond to requests for comment.