Tiger Woods was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on Friday and released from jail late the same evening, in an incident that has cast fresh uncertainty over the golf legend’s planned Masters comeback and his wider future in the sport.
The 15-time major champion was arrested after a rollover crash on Jupiter Island, Florida, on March 27, 2026, not far from his home, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. Woods was driving a Land Rover northbound on South Beach Road at high speed when he attempted to pass a truck hauling a pressure cleaner that had slowed to turn into a driveway. His vehicle swerved to avoid the truck but clipped the back of the trailer, causing the Land Rover to flip onto its side and slide down the road.
Woods climbed out through the passenger side door and was not injured. The driver of the truck was also unhurt.
When investigators arrived on the scene, they suspected impairment. Woods appeared lethargic and was given a breathalyzer at the scene, which he passed, blowing a 0.00, but he refused a urinalysis and was taken into custody. Investigators said they believe impairment may have been caused by medication, though no substances were found inside the vehicle. In addition to driving under the influence with property damage, Woods was charged with refusal to submit to a lawful test.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek addressed the arrest directly, making clear that the golfer’s profile offered no protection. “It doesn’t matter who you are. If you break the law, we’re going to follow the law,” he said.
Woods was taken into custody around 3 p.m. ET and held for approximately eight hours, as required by Florida law for driving under the influence arrests, before being released on bond late Friday night. His mugshot was released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office shortly before his release.
Legal experts have noted that because Woods refused the urinalysis, proving impairment by a controlled substance, which is required under Florida law to sustain a full driving under the influence conviction, may be difficult. The refusal to submit to a lawful test charge is a second-degree misdemeanor that carries a maximum of 60 days in jail.
This is the second time Woods has faced a driving under the influence charge. In 2017, he was found asleep behind the wheel of a running vehicle in Jupiter, Florida, with toxicology reports revealing the presence of five substances in his system. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving and served one year of probation.
The timing of Friday’s crash is significant. Woods had been working toward a decision on whether to compete in the Masters, which begins April 9, and was also approaching a deadline to confirm whether he would serve as United States captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup matches in Ireland. He had played competitive golf for the first time since July 2024 just three days earlier, appearing in the Technology Golf League (TGL) championship on Tuesday after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon and a seventh back surgery in October 2025.
President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters in Miami on Friday before learning of the arrest, described Woods as a very close friend and expressed concern upon hearing of the incident. Woods’ representatives had not issued a public statement as of Saturday morning.
