Tiger Woods Arrested for DUI After Rollover Crash

Rollover Crash Near His Florida Home

Tiger Woods, the 15-time major champion, was arrested on Friday, March 27, on suspicion of driving under the influence following a rollover crash on Jupiter Island, Florida — just miles from his home and barely two weeks before the prestigious Masters tournament at Augusta National.

The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on South Beach Road, a two-lane road in the exclusive barrier island community in Martin County. According to the Martin County Sheriff's Office, Woods was driving a Land Rover northbound at a high rate of speed when he attempted to overtake a pickup truck towing a small pressure-cleaning trailer. The truck was slowing to turn into a driveway when Woods' SUV clipped the rear of the trailer, causing the vehicle to flip onto its driver's side and slide along the roadway before coming to a stop.

Woods, 50, climbed out through the passenger-side window. Neither he nor the driver of the pickup truck sustained injuries, though the damage to both vehicles was significant. Sheriff John Budensiek told reporters at a press conference: "When I show you the photos, they kind of speak for themselves."

No Alcohol, but Drug Test Refused

Investigators conducted field sobriety assessments at the scene and determined Woods showed signs of impairment. He agreed to a breathalyzer test, which returned triple zeros — no alcohol whatsoever in his system. However, when asked to submit to a urine test designed to detect drugs or prescription medications, Woods refused.

"They believe it was some type of medication or drug," Sheriff Budensiek said, though he confirmed that no medications or drugs were found inside the vehicle. Under Florida's implied consent law, refusing a chemical test after a DUI arrest is itself a chargeable offense.

Woods was charged with two misdemeanors: DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful chemical test. He was booked at the Martin County Jail at 3 p.m. and, per Florida law requiring a minimum eight-hour hold, was released on bail shortly after 11 p.m. Friday evening.

Echoes of 2017

The arrest carries unmistakable echoes of a similar incident nine years ago. In May 2017, Woods was found asleep behind the wheel of his running car on a Jupiter roadside, also near his home. That arrest, too, involved no alcohol — Woods later attributed his impairment to a dangerous mix of prescription painkillers he was taking following back surgery. He ultimately pleaded guilty to reckless driving and entered a diversion program.

The parallels between the two incidents — both on Florida roads near his residence, both involving suspected medication impairment rather than alcohol — raise serious questions about whether Woods has continued to struggle with prescription drug management, particularly given his well-documented history of surgeries and chronic pain.

Masters in Doubt

The timing could hardly be worse. The 2026 Masters begins April 9 at Augusta National, and Woods had been weighing a return to competitive golf at the tournament he has won five times. His participation now appears deeply uncertain, both on legal and reputational grounds.

The PGA Tour acknowledged the incident but declined to comment on any potential disciplinary action. Former President Donald Trump, a friend of Woods, offered sympathy, telling reporters: "I feel so badly. He's got some difficulty... He's an amazing person, amazing man."

For Woods, who has spent years battling back from devastating leg injuries sustained in a 2021 single-car crash in Los Angeles, this latest episode represents yet another crisis at the intersection of his health challenges and public life. The legal process is just beginning — but the court of public opinion is already in session.