Tiger Woods was arrested and charged with DUI on March 27, 2026, after Car accident on Jupiter Island, Floridawhich left his Land Rover rolling on a two-lane road.
Martin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a press conference that Woods was charged with driving under the influence, property damage and refusing to submit to a legal test after refusing a urinalysis. The accident happened shortly after 2pm local time. No injuries were reported.
The golf legend was released from police custody about eight hours after he was booked, according to Florida law.
Keep scrolling to read more about the incident:
How the Crash Happened
During a press conference in March 2026, Sheriff John Budensiek described what authorities believe led to the crash. Authorities responded to an emergency call just before 2:00 p.m. and found a truck pulling a pressure washer and a Land Rover rolled over on the driver’s side door.
“The driver of [the pickup truck] he looked in his mirror and saw a black Land Rover passing him at high speed,” Budensiek said, without revealing the exact speed of the car. When he tried to go to the side of the road, the Land Rover caught up with him at the last minute, swerved to avoid a collision, but cut the back of the trailer.”
A photo taken by WPTV at the scene showed a Land Rover rolling on its side, while other photos from the scene showed the car lying face up on the side of the road with visible damage.
Tiger Woods was driving a Land Rover and, according to Budensiek, was able to get out of the passenger side window without being injured.
DUI charges
After authorities at the scene believed Tiger Woods might be impaired, DUI investigators were called to check on the golfer.
“Our DUI investigators came to the scene here. Mr. Woods exemplified signs of impairment,” said Sheriff John Budensiek at a press conference in March 2026. “They checked multiple times. He described the injuries and the surgery he had. We took that into consideration.”
The police chief continued, “Mr. Woods did a breathalyzer test with three zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urine test, he refused, so he was charged with DUI, vandalism and refusing to take a legal test.”
A breathalyzer result of three zeros suggested that Woods was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
“We know we arrested a high-level person … but it doesn’t matter who it is. If you break the law, we’re going to follow the law. That’s a really easy way,” Budensiek said of Woods’ arrest.
Mugshot, Jail Time and Release
Photo of Tiger Woods minus the mugshot on the same day as his arrest in March 2026, showing a golfer wearing a blue shirt and staring into the camera with a serious, if empty, expression.
Meanwhile, Sheriff John Budensiek, spoke about the way Woods was treated in custody while speaking to the media.
“Regarding his arrest, we will make sure that he is safe, we will not put him in public,” said the police officer. “He will not have other prisoners who can harm him or try to take advantage of what he has done, he will pay but he will not pay by being punished in prison.”
Woods spent about eight hours in the Martin County Jail, according to Florida law, and that was it released around 11 pm ET that night. The golf pro was later seen looking dejected in the passenger seat of a black SUV, wearing the same blue polo shirt seen in his photo. Woods has not spoken publicly about his arrest or the car accident.
History of Car Accidents
Tiger Woods previously suffered a serious leg injury in a single-car accident in Southern California in February 2021, resulting in a broken ankle and two broken legs. At the time, investigators said there was no reason to believe that Woods was operating the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Instead, the athlete crashed while driving “at an unsafe speed for the road conditions,” according to a police report.
“I understand the recovery process very well because of my past injuries, but this was more painful than anything I’ve ever experienced,” he said. Golf Digest in May 2021 while he is recovering. “My physical therapy has been keeping me busy. I’m doing my routines every day and I’m focused on my No. 1 goal right now: walking on my own. One step at a time.”
Woods was also arrested on suspicion of DUI in 2017 during a traffic stop in Florida. The golfer was found asleep behind the wheel, with Vicodin, Xanax and other drugs in his system. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving and entered the first-time DUI diversion program.)
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President Donald Trump Responds to Tiger Woods Arrest
The president Donald Trump spoke about the incident a few hours later, sympathizing with Tiger Woods, whom he called “a very close friend.”
“I feel so bad. He’s having a hard time,” Trump told reporters in March 2026. “There was an accident, and that’s all I know. He’s a very close friend of mine, he’s a wonderful person, a wonderful man. But it’s a hard time. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Trump was later rumored to be considering granting Woods a pardon to compete in the upcoming Masters tournament, according to a viral post on social media. It soon became clear that the alleged statement was false.
Trump and Woods have played golf together in the past, and the US president honored Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019 during his first term in office.
If you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem, contact the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
