Come on, Tiger…
Legendary golfer Tiger Woods has been arrested for DUI following a rollover car crash in Florida this afternoon.
According to ABC News, the crash took place near his home in Jupiter, Florida this afternoon when the golfer was traveling at a high rate of speed on a two-lane road in his Land Rover and attempted to pass a truck that was pulling a trailer. Tiger reportedly sideswiped the trailer, which caused his vehicle to roll over onto the driver’s side.
Preliminary reports from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office suggest that there were no immediate, life-threatening injuries and that one individual was reportedly in stable condition, while the other refused ambulance services.
But shortly after news of the crash began spreading, the sheriff’s office announced that Tiger had been arrested for DUI.
In a press conference, authorities said Woods appeared impaired after crawling out of the vehicle, and after field sobriety tests officers believed that he was under the influence of prescription drugs. After being arrested, Woods was given a breathalyzer which confirmed that he hadn’t been drinking, but refused to submit to a urine test to determine whether he was on anything else.
As a result, Tiger was charged with DUI causing property damage and refusal to submit to a urine test following a lawful DUI arrest.
Under Florida law, Tiger is required to remain in jail for at least 8 hours following a DUI arrest before being released on bond.
Obviously this isn’t Tiger’s first brush with the law. In May 2017, police found Woods asleep at the wheel of his running car. A toxicology report later showed several prescription medications in his system (including painkillers and sleep aids). He pleaded guilty to reckless driving and entered a diversion program.
Then in 2021, Tiger was involved in a serious accident outside of Los Angeles. Woods was driving an SUV at high speeds (estimated between 84–87 mph in a 45 mph zone) when he hit a median, crossed two lanes of oncoming traffic, and struck a tree before the vehicle flipped multiple times. He suffered “comminuted open fractures” to both his tibia and fibula in his right leg, which means bones broke in a number of places and punctured through the skin. The severity of the injury required a rod to be inserted. His foot and ankle were stabilized with screws and pins.
No charges were filed, and police stated there were no signs of impairment at the scene, however the severity of the injury had lasting effects on his golf career. While he battled a number of injuries prior to the accident, he’s only played in 8 majors since.
Tiger has been attempting a comeback following a ruptured Achilles tendon last year, as well as a back surgery in October. He recently competed for the first time in over a year during the TGL finals earlier this week, where his own Jupiter Links GC team lost to the Los Angeles Golf Club. He had also reportedly considered returning to the PGA Tour for next week’s Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, though I think it’s safe to rule that out now.
The legendary golfer has also been in the headlines recently for his relationship with Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. and mother of Kai Trump, who is of course the granddaughter of President Donald Trump.
When asked about the accident, the president expressed his sympathy for his friend:
“I feel so badly. 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, an amazing man. But some difficulty.”
Just a terrible situation.
