Tiger Woods was granted bail late Friday evening, just hours after his Land Rover collided with a truck and overturned, resulting in his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to officials.
Woods was reportedly driving at “high speeds” on a residential street and exhibited “signs of impairment” following the accident, stated Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek. Investigators suspect that Woods had consumed some form of medication or drug. Budensiek described Woods as sluggish, noting that he consented to a breathalyzer test, which indicated no alcohol presence, but he declined a urine test and was subsequently arrested.
Under Florida law, Woods was required to remain in jail for a minimum of eight hours before he could secure his release on bail.
Woods, who did not sustain any injuries in the incident, was kept in isolation from other inmates at the facility, Budensiek reported.
“He won’t be housed with other inmates who might harm him or exploit his situation,” he explained. “He will face consequences, but he won’t endure additional punishment while in jail.”
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office released images from the scene of the vehicle rollover in Jupiter Island, Fla., involving Tiger Woods. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office/The Associated Press)
Woods’s representative at Excel Sports did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
This marks Woods’s second arrest for DUI not related to alcohol consumption. In 2017, he was found asleep in his car, with the engine running and the driver’s side damaged, after taking a harmful combination of painkillers. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving at that time.
When asked about Woods upon his arrival in Miami for an investment summit, U.S. President Donald Trump, whose former daughter-in-law is currently dating Woods, expressed concern.
“I feel really bad for him. He’s facing some challenges,” Trump said. “He’s a very close friend of mine. An incredible person. An amazing man. But, he’s having some difficulties.”
Attempted to overtake pressure cleaner truck: sheriff
The accident took place just before 2 p.m., close to Woods’s residence on Jupiter Island, Fla.
Budensiek indicated that Woods was trying to pass a pressure cleaner truck while driving on a two-lane road that had a speed limit of 48 km/h (30 mph). He mentioned that officials could not ascertain Woods’s exact speed at the time.
This image released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office shows Tiger Woods, in Stuart, Fla., on Friday. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office/The Associated Press)
According to Budensiek, Woods swerved to avoid hitting the truck but ended up clipping the rear of its trailer, causing his Land Rover to roll onto its driver’s side, from which he managed to escape.
The sheriff noted that Woods was “cooperative, but he wasn’t trying to implicate himself.” He added that Woods had the right to refuse the urine test and that authorities “will never obtain conclusive results regarding what impaired him.”
Previous accidents
This incident marks the fourth car crash involving Woods, with the most recent occurring in February 2021 when his SUV veered off a coastal road in Los Angeles at a high speed, resulting in serious injuries to his legs and ankles. Woods later disclosed that doctors considered amputation.
Throughout his golfing career, he has also experienced multiple injuries to his left knee and back.
After undergoing several back surgeries, Woods made a comeback by winning the 2019 Masters, securing his 15th major title. His total of 82 PGA Tour victories ties him with Sam Snead for the all-time record.
Since the incident in Los Angeles, Woods has participated in 11 tournaments, without finishing within 16 shots of the winner in the four events where he completed 72 holes.
Woods’s arrest on Friday coincided with his deliberations on whether he was physically capable of competing in the Masters, set to begin on April 9. He was also scheduled to be in Augusta, Ga., on April 5 to unveil a golf course initiative alongside Masters chair Fred Ridley.
Additionally, Woods was approaching a “soft deadline” to determine if he would serve as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the 2027 matches in Ireland.
At 50 years old, Woods had been making strides to return to golf following a seventh back surgery in September.
His last official tournament appearance was at the British Open in 2024. In March 2025, Woods ruptured his Achilles tendon, which sidelined him for the entire season, even prior to his back surgery. He was able to participate in his indoor TGL golf league on Tuesday night.
Woods remains actively engaged in PGA Tour matters as chair of the Future Competition Committee, which is working on overhauling the tour’s structure.