Golf legend Tiger Woods has been arrested for a DUI after he was involved in a rollover car crash in Jupiter Island, Florida.
Woods’ SUV hit another vehicle before rolling onto the driver side where it remained in the middle of the street.
The 50-year-old was forced to crawl out of his luxury SUV before emergency services arrived on the scene.
The crash unfolded just after 2pm US eastern time (early Saturday morning, AEDT) in the town where Woods lives.
A photo from the scene shows a black SUV on its side surrounded by police officers and a flatbed tow truck.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said Woods attempted to drive around a flatbed truck, which was pulling into a driveway, at a “high-rate of speed,” but then swerved to avoid an oncoming car. He then allegedly clipped the truck, which prompted the Land Rover to flip.
Watch police discuss the crash and charges in the video player above
After crawling from the wreck, Woods was greeted by police, who quickly noticed the golf star seemed unusually lethargic.
“Mr. Woods did exemplify the signs of impairment,” the sheriff said.
Woods appeared to be under the influence of “some type of medication or drug” — as a breath test showed absolutely no signs of alcohol, Budensiek said.
The golfer faces charges of driving under the influence with property damage and refusing a lawful test.
Woods and the other driver involved are not believed to have been injured in the incident.
Woods sneaks out, mugshot released
Woods was released from a Florida prison later on Friday night local time, several hours after being booked on DUI charges, sneaking out the back door in a failed bid to avoid the media.
The 50-year-old golf legend was spotted slumped in the front seat of a black Cadillac that chauffeured him out of the Martin County lockup about eight hours after he was hauled into custody following a rollover crash in his hometown of Jupiter Island.
It’s unclear if the fallen athlete — who appeared disheveled and glassy-eyed in a humiliating mugshot — was released on bond or arraigned.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek held a press conference where he revealed further details regarding the cause of the crash.
“The Jupiter Island Police Department responded and found a pickup truck pulling a pressure-cleaner trailer, and a Land Rover, which was rolled over on the driver’s door,” Budensiek began.
“The investigation started, and initially, right off the top, it did appear that the driver of the Land Rover might be impaired.
“Our investigation revealed as follows: shortly before 2pm, the pressure-cleaner truck was northbound on South Beach Rd, and was pulling to turn into a driveway; it was slowing down.
“And the driver of that vehicle looked in his mirror and saw a dark-coloured Land Rover overtaking him at high speeds, and I don’t know those speeds.
“The Land Rover kept overtaking him, he saw him coming, so he tried to edge off to the side of the road, but this was a small two-land road, and there was no shoulder for this pressure-cleaner gentleman to get off to the side of the road.
“As he 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, listed to the side and then rolled on the driver’s door … past the truck that had just avoided the crash.
“The individual driving that Land Rover was able to crawl out the passenger door of the car, and was identified to be Mr. Tiger Woods.”
Budensiek said investigators did not suspect alcohol involvement, but when it came time for a urine analysis test, Woods refused, prompting the additional charge.
“Our DUI investigators came to the scene here, and Mr. Woods did exemplify signs of impairment,” Budensiek said.
“They did several tests on him — of course, he did explain the injuries and the surgeries that he had, we did take that into account — but they did do some in-depth roadside tests, and when it was determined, he was placed under arrest and taken to the Martin County jail.
“At the Martin County jail, and even on scene, we really weren’t suspicious of alcohol being involved in this case, and that proved to be true at the jail.
“Mr. Woods did a breathalyser test with triple zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urine analysis test, he refused, so he’s been charged with DUI, with property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
“In the crash, no one was injured. Mr. Woods did not seem to be injured at all, and the other gentleman was not injured.”
Donald Trump told reporters that Woods has had “some difficulty” after the crash.
“I feel so badly,” he said.
“He’s got some difficulty. There was an accident, and that’s all I know. Very close friend of mine. He’s an amazing person. Amazing man. But, some difficulty. I don’t want to talk about it.”
The golf legend, 50, was also involved in a horror rollover crash five years ago that left him seriously injured and fearing he’d lose a leg.
He lost control of his SUV and hit a tree after driving more than 128km/h in a 70km/h zone.
At the time, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the 15-time major champion was “lucky to be alive”.
In 2017, Woods also fell foul of the law when he was arrested for driving under the influence after cops caught him asleep at the wheel of his car.
Officers had noticed his vehicle parked erratically at the side of the road with the engine running.
Distressing police bodycam footage showed him unable to breathe into a breathalyzer as he stumbled around the police station.
Woods, who had recently undergone back surgery, was later found to have had five different prescription drugs in his system.
He claimed he had an “unexpected reaction to the medication.”
Woods said after his arrest that he was seeking “professional help to manage my medications” and suffering from back pain and a sleep disorder.
He pleaded guilty to reckless driving to escape a DUI conviction.
In 2009, Woods collided with fire hydrant, a tree, and several hedges near his Florida mansion.
He was knocked unconscious in the crash and was rescued by his wife at the time, model Elin Nordegren, who smashed the car’s windows with a golf club to save him.
The crash comes as Woods was hoping to make a comeback at the Masters, which begin on April 9.
He pulled out of the 2025 Masters after rupturing his Achilles tendon shortly before the tournament.
Donald Trump said this week that Woods would not play in this year’s competition, but the golf legend hasn’t made the confirmation himself.
Woods is dating Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr.
The golfer hasn’t competed in the PGA Tour since the start of 2024.
In early March, he returned to play in the TGL finals with the team he co-owns, Jupiter Links, only to be humiliated 9-2 by Los Angeles Golf Club.
– with The US Sun & NY Post
