Tiger Woods Arrested for DUI, Refusing Drug Test in Rollover Car Crash
Tiger Woods is weighing in on his recent arrest.
Following his March 27 car crash, after which he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and refusing to take a drug test, the Hall of Fame golfer spoke about the incident.
"I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself today,” Tiger said in a March 31 statement released on X (formerly Twitter) after pleading not guilty to the charges. "I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment nd focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery."
The 50-year-old added, "I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time."
The two-vehicle collision occurred in Jupiter Island, Fla., after Woods attempted to overtake a pickup truck while driving his Land Rover at high speed on a two-lane road, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, who spoke to reporters shortly after the accident.
Wood’s car flipped onto its side after clipping the other vehicle and he was able to “crawl out of the passenger door of the car,” per the sheriff.
While officers on scene did not report any injuries, they determined that Woods “did exemplify signs of impairment,” Budensiek said. However, he noted that investigators were not “suspicious of alcohol being involved in this case.”
“Mr. Woods did a breathalyzer test, blew triple zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urinalysis test, he refused,” the sheriff continued. “There is a Florida statute which he will be charged with for refusing to take that test, but we will never get definitive results as to what he was impaired on at the time of the crash.”
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While responding to the scene of the crash, deputies discovered two white pills they believe to be hydrocodone opioid pain medication in his left pant pocket, per an arrest affidavit obtained by E! News.
Years before the athlete’s collision in the Sunshine State, he was involved in a single-vehicle crash in Los Angeles where he suffered serious leg injuries.
At the time, he was traveling more than 40 miles per hour over the speed limit. According to a collision report obtained by E! News, Woods was knocked unconscious during the accident and suffered injuries listed as "laceration to the lower front jaw, bruised right and left rib cage, fractured right tibia and fibula, possible right ankle injury."
WPTV
He underwent a three-week hospital stay and multiple surgeries as a result of his injuries.
"I've had some hard days and tough setbacks," he told Golf Digest in November 2021, "but I keep progressing and I'm able to walk again."
Since then, Woods has returned to golf. Prior to his latest crash, he competed in the TGL Finals in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., March 24.
Read on to look back at Tiger’s golf career.
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1978
Christina Salvador/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images
1989
Ken Levine/Getty Images
1990
Per-Anders Pettersson./Corbis via Getty Images
1991
David Madison/Getty Images
1995
Sam Greenwood/PGA TOUR Archive
1997
JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images
2000
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2004
David Cannon/Getty Images
2006
ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
2008
Lester Cohen/WireImage
2008
Eric Gay-Pool for Getty Images
2010
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
2010
Warren Little/Getty Images
2013
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
2014
AP Photo/Chris Carlson
2015
EPA/TANNEN MAURY/LANDOV
2015
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images
2016
AP Photo/Chris Carlson
2019
Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
2020
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