Tiger Woods was arrested Friday afternoon after his Land Rover rolled on its side on Beach Road in Jupiter Island, Florida, and he now faces misdemeanor DUI and related charges. The 50‑year‑old golf legend had just returned to competitive play days earlier when the crash happened near his private home on the narrow two‑lane stretch that hugs the island.
Just before 2 p.m., a pressure washer truck was slowing to turn into a driveway when Woods’ SUV approached at speed from behind. The truck driver saw the Land Rover closing fast in his mirror and tried to edge off the road, but there was no shoulder. The Land Rover clipped the trailer, tipped, and flipped onto its side. No one was hurt. Woods crawled out through the passenger side window and was taken into custody by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
First responders from the Jupiter Island Police Department called in DUI investigators from the sheriff’s office. At the scene, authorities said Woods showed signs of impairment. He took a breath test that registered 0.00 percent for alcohol, leading investigators to believe prescription medication may have been a factor. Woods refused a urinalysis at the county jail, and that refusal is itself a charge.
Woods now faces three misdemeanor counts: driving under the influence, property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test. Sheriff John Budensiek said Woods cooperated but was careful with his words when officers spoke with him. When pressed about whether a high‑profile name would affect how the case is handled, the sheriff said clearly that the law applies to everyone.
This is not Woods’ first run‑in behind the wheel. In 2017 he was arrested on suspicion of DUI after being found asleep in his car in Palm Beach County. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving, attributed the episode to medication, and avoided harsher penalties. In February 2021, he suffered severe leg injuries in a single‑vehicle crash in California, but no impairment was found then. This latest incident marks his first DUI‑related arrest in nearly a decade.
The timing is especially notable. On Tuesday, March 24, Woods made his first competitive golf appearance in months at the TGL indoor golf finals near Palm Beach Gardens. He had been sidelined by serious injuries, including a ruptured Achilles and back surgery. The Masters Tournament is set to begin on April 9, and before the crash Woods had publicly expressed a desire to play, though he acknowledged physical limits.
Woods is currently in a relationship with Vanessa Trump, though no official statement has been released by his representatives. The investigation into the crash continues under the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, and court proceedings are expected in the days ahead.
