Tiger Woods has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence after he was involved in a rollover car crash on Friday.
Sheriff John Budensiek from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said Woods was detained after the crash, which occurred just after 2pm local time (around 7pm UK time), not far from where Woods lives in Jupiter Island, Florida.
Budensiek said Woods took a breathalyser test, which came back negative, but refused to take a urine test.
After refusing to take the test, he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
Budensiek said: “Woods will face charges of driving under the influence, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.”
Golfer Tiger Woods pictured standing by his overturned car after being involved in a crash on Jupiter Island, Florida. Credit: AP Photo/Jason Oteri
Budensiek also said officers reported Woods “signs of impairment” when they arrived at the scene.
The sheriff added that the accident appeared to have happened when Woods attempted to overtake another vehicle that was towing a trailer in his Land Rover.
The vehicle, which was towing the trailer, had begun slowing down to take a turn when Woods overtook it.
The sheriff said Woods then clipped the trailer, which caused his car to roll onto its side and slide along the road.
Skid marks can be seen near the overturned car in a rollover crash which involved Tiger Woods. Credit: Martin County Sheriff’s Office via AP
Budensiek said he did not know how fast Woods was driving, but he believed it was at a high speed. He noted the speed limit on the road where the crash occurred was 30mph.
Upon arrival in Miami on Friday, President Donald Trump expressed concern for Woods, who he called his “good friend.”
“I feel so badly,” Trump told reporters. “He’s got some difficulty. There was an accident and that’s all I know…(He’s a) very close friend of mine. He’s an amazing person, amazing man.”
Tiger Wood’s Land Rover rolled over in the crash. Credit: WPTV
It is the third time Woods has been involved in a car crash, most recently in February 2021, when his SUV ran off a coastal road in Los Angeles at high speed, which led to multiple leg and ankle injuries. Woods said later doctors considered amputation.
He was also arrested in 2017 when South Florida police found him asleep behind the wheel of his car that was parked awkwardly with damage to the driver’s side. Woods said later he had taken a bad mix of painkillers.
The 50-year-old is currently on the golf comeback trail after rupturing his Achilles just over a year ago and then undergoing his seventh back surgery late last year.Amid speculation that Woods would mark his comeback by participating in his 27th Masters next month, the 15-time major winner made his debut in The Golf League (TGL) earlier this week.
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