Tiger Woods was arrested on Friday 27 March 2026 near his home on Jupiter Island, Florida, after his Land Rover SV rolled onto its driver's side following a collision with a pickup truck towing a trailer on a residential road with a 30 mph speed limit. He spent eight hours in the Martin County Jail before being released on bail.
On Tuesday, his attorney entered a written not guilty plea on his behalf in Martin County court, waiving the arraignment hearing that had been scheduled for 23 April. Woods has also demanded a trial by jury, according to TMZ.
He is facing two misdemeanor charges: driving under the influence with property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
What the arrest report says
According to the arrest affidavit reported by CNN, Woods was sweating profusely and presented with extremely dilated pupils when deputies arrived. He failed a field sobriety test. Deputies found two hydrocodone pills in his pocket. He breathalysed at 0.00 for alcohol on both samples, but refused a urine test for drugs, which became a separate charge.
Woods told the responding deputy that he had not been drinking and took a few prescription medications that morning, but had not used any illegal drugs. He also told deputies that he did not notice the other vehicle slowing down because he was looking at his cell phone and changing the radio station at the time of impact.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said at a press conference that Woods had been travelling at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred. The pickup truck sustained $5,000 in damage. Neither Woods nor the other driver was injured.
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The attorney and the legal picture
Woods has retained Douglas Duncan, the same criminal defence attorney who represented him during his 2017 DUI arrest in Jupiter, Florida. In that case, Woods was found asleep at the wheel of a running car at 3 a.m. and tested positive for five prescription drugs including hydrocodone. He eventually pleaded guilty to reckless driving and completed twelve months of probation, DUI school, and 50 hours of community service.
CNN spoke with Lawrence Meltzer, a West Palm Beach attorney who specialises in DUI cases and is not involved in this case, about the legal situation. Meltzer told CNN that because Woods refused the urine test, prosecutors will have no toxicology evidence to identify a specific substance:
"Can they go forward without having any evidence of what the substance is? Meaning, they have no alcohol, and then technically they have no drug."
Meltzer added that the refusal itself carries legal weight:
"The refusal is indicative of guilt. They can use it as evidence of guilt."
He said that based on the available evidence, he does not expect Woods to face jail time, and that the case would be tried entirely on its own merits with no reference to the 2017 arrest, though a prior DUI arrest could be considered by a judge at sentencing if Woods were found guilty.
Woods steps away from golf
Hours after the not guilty plea was entered, Woods posted a statement on social media. According to NPR, he wrote:
"I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today. I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritise my well-being and work toward lasting recovery."
He will miss the Masters for the second consecutive year.
Woods is 50 years old. He is a fifteen time major winner and widely regarded as the greatest golfer of his generation. His body has been extensively damaged by injury and surgery: he told deputies at the scene that he has had seven back surgeries and over 20 operations on his right leg. A serious rollover crash in Los Angeles in 2021 was for a time feared to be career ending. He returned to competitive play but has finished only four of eleven tournaments since.
His next court hearing is scheduled for 5 May.
Tiger Woods is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Sources:
- CNN — Tiger Woods DUI charge affidavit
- CNN — Tiger Woods car crash DUI what we know
- NPR — Tiger Woods says he will seek treatment after pleading not guilty to DUI
- Bloomberg — Tiger Woods to seek treatment after pleading not guilty
- TMZ — Tiger Woods Pleads Not Guilty, Retains High-Powered Attorney
- Fox News — Tiger Woods pleads not guilty, demands trial by jury
- Jalopnik — Tiger Woods Pleads Not Guilty To His Latest DUI Charge