Tiger Woods submits not guilty plea after Florida car crash
The golfer, who had to crawl out of the passenger door, passed an alcohol analysis test but refused a urinalysis test for other drugs, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.
During an interview at the crash scene, Woods was “sweating profusely” and his movements were “lethargic and slow,” a police officer wrote in an arrest affidavit released Tuesday.
When asked if he had taken any prescription medications, Woods replied, “I’m taking a few,” according to the incident report, adding that he did so in the early morning hours.
Authorities later found two white pills identified as hydrocodone, an opioid used to treat pain.
Woods told authorities he was looking at his phone while changing radio stations and did not notice the truck in front of him slowing down before the crash.
Woods, a 15-time major winner, was held in jail for eight hours after the incident – the minimum time allowed under state law – before being released on bail.
He was also charged with property damage and refusal to submit to legal testing.
The report stated that Woods was observed “limping and stumbling”, and that the American said he had seven back surgeries and more than 20 surgeries on his leg. Woods underwent multiple surgeries following a serious car accident in 2021.
An officer also noted that Woods was “extremely alert and talkative” and had “hiccups throughout the entire investigation.”
A deputy who put Woods through a series of field sobriety tests said in the report, based on their training: “I believed Woods’ normal faculties were impaired and he was unable to safely operate a motor vehicle.”
Neither Woods nor the PGA Tour have yet publicly commented on the arrest and charges.
Woods is recovering from tearing his Achilles tendon in March 2025 and having back surgery in October.
He competed in the TGL indoor league finals last week, his first competitive golf in more than a year, and has not ruled out playing in next month’s Masters.
He hasn’t competed at a major since missing the cut at The Open in July 2024.
