Golf legend Tiger Woods faces DUI charges after a dramatic rollover crash on Jupiter Island, Florida, that left his Range Rover on its side along a narrow residential street. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office arrested the 50-year-old athlete following the incident, which occurred when Woods allegedly clipped a pressure-cleaner trailer while attempting to pass at high speed.
The crash unfolded just before 2 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026, on South Beach Road, a two-lane roadway with a 30 mph speed limit. Woods’ Land Rover approached a northbound truck from behind as the driver began pulling into a driveway. Investigators say Woods tried to pass the truck but struck the trailer it was towing, causing his SUV to tip onto the driver’s side and slide along the pavement. Woods climbed out through the passenger side window and walked away from the wreckage without injury.
At the scene, deputies determined Woods exhibited signs of impairment—Sheriff John Budensiek described him as “lethargic”—though a breathalyzer test registered 0.00, showing no alcohol in his system. A Drug Recognition Expert concluded that Woods’ impairment likely stemmed from medication or drugs. Woods agreed to the breathalyzer but refused a urine test, which led to a second charge: refusal to submit to a lawful test. Authorities found no substances in the vehicle.
Deputies booked Woods into the Martin County Jail in Stuart around 3 p.m., where Florida law required him to remain for at least eight hours. He posted bail and left the facility shortly before midnight, departing in the passenger seat of a black SUV through a swarm of photographers.
Both charges against Woods are misdemeanors. A first-time DUI conviction in Florida carries up to six months imprisonment and a $1,000 fine, while refusing a lawful test brings up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Without urine test results, however, legal experts say prosecutors may struggle to prove Woods was actually under the influence of a controlled substance—leaving the refusal charge as the more likely avenue for conviction. No court date has been set.
President Donald Trump addressed the arrest while landing in Miami for an investment summit. “I feel so badly. He’s got some difficulty,” Trump told reporters. “Very close friend of mine. He’s an amazing person, amazing man. But some difficulty.” Woods is dating Vanessa Trump, 48, the president’s former daughter-in-law and ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.
Woods, worth $1.5 billion according to Forbes, has earned roughly $1.8 billion before taxes during his professional golf career—making him the wealthiest golfer in history and only the second active athlete to reach billionaire status, alongside LeBron James. He set a PGA Tour record with $121 million in prize money, though approximately 90% of his wealth comes from endorsements and business ventures rather than tournament winnings.
This marks Woods’ second DUI arrest. In May 2017, Jupiter police found him asleep behind the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz and had to wake him. A toxicology report from that incident revealed five drugs in his system: Vicodin, Dilaudid, Xanax, Ambien, and THC. Woods later apologized to his family, friends, and fans, blaming an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving and entered a diversion program that wiped his record clean.
The golfer also survived a devastating single-vehicle crash on February 23, 2021, in Rolling Hills Estates, California, that left his Genesis GV80 mangled and nearly cost him his right leg. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, Woods was traveling between 84 and 87 mph in a 45 mph zone when he lost control. He suffered open fractures to his lower right leg, requiring emergency surgery, a rod in his tibia, and screws and pins in his foot and ankle. Woods spent three weeks hospitalized and three months recovering in a hospital-type bed at his home. Authorities determined that crash showed no evidence of impairment and was purely an accident caused by excessive speed.
Just three days before his arrest, Woods competed in the TGL Finals at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens—his first competitive swings in more than a year. His Jupiter Links Golf Club team lost to the Los Angeles Golf Club, which captured the SoFi Cup with a commanding 9-2 victory. Woods had indicated that competing at The Masters remained a possibility as he continues recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon in March 2025 and a seventh back surgery in October. The prestigious tournament begins April 9, 2026, though Woods’ participation now appears highly uncertain following his arrest.
Sheriff Budensiek noted that the crash could have been far more serious. “Had there been somebody moving in the opposite direction, we would not be having a conversation saying there was no injuries,” he said during his press conference. “This could have been a lot worse.” The narrow roadway offers little room for drivers to move aside, and investigators emphasized that oncoming traffic could have turned the incident deadly. The truck driver escaped injury.
Woods’ longtime agent, Mark Steinberg, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The arrest adds another turbulent chapter to Woods’ personal history, which has included highly publicized struggles with pain medication following multiple surgeries to extend his playing career. Despite these setbacks, Woods remains one of golf’s most recognizable and influential figures—a 15-time major champion who transformed the sport and continues to draw massive interest whenever he steps onto a course.
Whether this latest incident derails what remained of his comeback attempts or prompts a more serious reckoning with his health challenges, the golf world—and millions of fans who have followed his extraordinary career—will be watching closely.