Golf Legend Tiger Woods Arrested for DUI Following Shocking SUV Crash

In a dramatic turn of events, golf icon Tiger Woods finds himself in police custody in Florida following a serious incident involving driving under the influence. The charges come in the aftermath of a rollover crash near his residence on Jupiter Island, which also involved property damage and a refusal to submit to a urine test.

Despite the severity of the crash, Woods emerged unharmed. The accident unfolded when his Range Rover SUV struck the back of a pressure-washing vehicle, causing the SUV to flip onto its side. Demonstrating resilience, Woods was able to crawl out through the passenger side door after the vehicle came to a halt just after 2 p.m. on Friday.

During a press briefing, officials from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office disclosed that Woods exhibited signs of impairment at the accident scene. His subsequent refusal to provide a urine sample led to his arrest.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported for either Woods or the driver of the other vehicle involved. However, Woods faces a mandatory period of detention, lasting at least eight hours, as stipulated by the local police department.

The collision took place in a zone with a speed limit of 30 mph. According to law enforcement, Woods was traveling at a high speed when he attempted to overtake a truck towing a pressure-washing apparatus, leading to the accident.

As the vehicle slowed to turn into a driveway, Woods attempted to overtake on the two-lane residential street but clipped the rear of the trailer, flipping his Range Rover onto its side before coming to a stop.

Tiger Woods was involved in a rollover car crash in Florida on Friday afternoon

Sheriff John Budensiek revealed details of Woods’ crash at a press conference on Friday

After clambering out, a ‘lethargic’ Woods agreed to take a breathalyzer at the scene – with the Sheriff’s Office confirming that he showed ‘triple zeros’ – but he then refused to provide a urine sample.

Speaking to the media, Sheriff John Budensiek revealed: ‘He is cooperative, but he was not trying to incriminate himself, so he was careful in what he said and didn’t say. When it came time again for the test, the urine test at the jail, he stopped that.

‘On scene, we had [Drug Recognition] experts evaluating him and they believed from on scene that he was not impaired with alcohol, but they believe it was some type of medication or drug. And again, at the jail he cooperated with the breathalyzer, and then the urine [test] he wanted no part in.

‘He has a right to refuse that test. There is a statute that he will be charged with for refusing to take that test, but we will never get definitive results as to what he was impaired on at the time of the crash.’

Woods, who lives on Jupiter Island, was involved in a similar crash in 2021 in California, which shattered his right leg after he was trapped under the vehicle. He needed multiple surgeries in order to recover from his injuries.

The accident, the third crash he has been involved in, comes just days after Woods made his hugely anticipated return to golf at an event on Tuesday night, where girlfriend Vanessa Trump was watching him play.

In 2021, golf icon Woods shattered his leg from a similar crash in Southern California 

Woods has been weighing up whether to compete in The Masters at Augusta National, Georgia in April after undergoing a seventh back surgery last October. He said this week that, despite returning to golf, he has days where he struggles to move.

‘Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days,’ he said this week of his overall health.

‘Disc replacement is not a lot of fun. I’ve had a lot of procedures prior to that, so the body doesn’t quite heal like it was when I was 24. Doesn’t quite bounce back. So I have good days when I can pretty much do anything, and other days where it’s hard to just to move around.’

As well as Woods’ ongoing back issues, he also tore his Achilles last March. He last played a tournament in July 2024 at The Open Championship in Scotland.

Remarkably, President Trump had said on Thursday night that Woods – who he is friends with – would not be playing at Augusta.

‘I love Tiger but he won’t be there,’ Trump told Fox. ‘He will be there but he won’t be playing in it.’

In 2017 Woods was arrested for DUI after police found him slumped in his car in Florida with five drugs in his system, including two painkillers. 

He subsequently checked into rehab for painkiller addiction.

Woods kisses girlfriend Vanessa Trump on the cheek on his return to golf on Tuesday night

He was involved in another high-profile crash in 2009 when he hit a fire hydrant after being chased from his home by then-wife Elin Nordegren, which led him to admit to multiple affairs and drug use.

Woods and Nordegren eventually divorced in 2010 but have remained friends while co-parenting their children.

‘Having the relationship that I have now with her is fantastic,’ Woods told Time in 2015. ‘We both know that the most important things in our lives are our kids. I wish I would have known that back then.’

Their 17-year-old son, Charlie, is an aspiring golfer and the former couple often reunite to support him at events. They also have a daughter, Sam, who is 18.

Woods has been dating Vanessa Trump for over a year – their relationship was first reported by the Daily Mail in March 2025 after they started seeing each other around Thanksgiving 2024. 

Vanessa filed for an uncontested divorce from ex-husband Donald Trump Jr. in March 2018. 

Woods pictured with his two kids Sam (center) and Charlie (left) in Florida in 2023

Eldest Trump grandchild Kai (center) pictured with Woods at PGA Tour event in 2025

Her daughter, Kai, is also an avid golfer who has commited to play at college level for the University of Miami. She has also forged a growing profile as an influencer in the sport.

But just as Woods has appeared to find happiness once again away from golf, Friday’s incident is a stark reminder of the troubles that have followed him throughout the course of his life. 

As well as his recent struggles to stay healthy, his mother Kultida died in February 2025 at the age of 80.

‘My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable. She was quick with the needle and a laugh,’ Woods said at the time.

‘She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible.’

Woods lost his doting mother, Kultida, in February 2025 at the age of 80 years old

His 2021 crash in California happened when Woods lost control on a downhill stretch of road, smashed through a road sign and rolled his car several hundred feet in a horror smash that police said he was ‘lucky to survive’. 

Firefighters had to use a halligan tool to extricate Woods, freeing him from the car via the window.

Woods is a 15-time Major winner in golf and widely considered to be the most talented player to have ever competed in the game. 

The Daily Mail has contacted Woods’ agent for comment.