Tiger Woods was released from the Martin County Jail on Friday evening after being arrested earlier in the day for driving under the influence following a car crash. The golfer's mugshot, showing him with red eyes, was made public shortly before he exited the jail at around 8:15pm PT. He was driven away in a chauffeured Cadillac after posting bond, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Department.
The crash occurred just before 2pm ET when Woods’ Land Rover, travelling at high speed, overtook a truck towing a pressure cleaner trailer on a two-lane road with a 30mph limit. The vehicle swerved to avoid the trailer but clipped its rear, causing the Land Rover to flip and skid to a stop with the driver’s door pinned against the ground. Woods climbed out of the passenger side, insisting he was unharmed. Sheriff John Budensiek said Woods was “cooperative but not trying to incriminate himself.”
Despite showing signs of impairment, Woods registered a 0.00 on a breathalyzer test. He was charged with driving under the influence with property damage and failure to take a urine test. Under Florida law, he was required to spend eight hours behind bars. He could face up to a year in jail, fines or probation, and his driving licence is likely to be suspended for a year.
With a previous DUI from 2017 on his record – also occurring near the same location – Woods could face jail time. That 2017 incident found him under the influence of a mix of medications including Xanax, Vicodin, Ambien and THC. Woods has also had multiple surgeries and health issues. In 2021, he was involved in another serious crash but was not charged.
President Donald Trump, who described Woods as a “good friend,” declined to discuss the arrest in detail, saying, “He’s got some difficulty … I don’t want to talk about it.” Trump also stated that Woods would not play in the 2026 Masters, despite Woods expressing hope to compete. Woods remains signed up for the US Senior Open in July 2025.
