Tiger Woods Pleads Not Guilty to DUI and Property Damage Charges Following Florida Crash

Tiger Woods, the 50-year-old golf legend and 15 (major championships) — career major titles won by Tiger Woods 15-time major champion, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, to charges of driving under the influence, property damage, and refusal to submit to a urine test, following a rollover crash on Jupiter Island, Florida, four days earlier. His attorney, Douglas Duncan, appeared in Martin County court on his behalf, waived arraignment, and demanded a trial by jury. Hours after the court appearance, Woods posted a statement to his social media account announcing he was stepping away from golf for an undisclosed period to seek treatment. No one was injured in the crash.

Woods has a documented history of legal and physical difficulties behind the wheel. In 2017, he was arrested on a DUI charge and subsequently completed a diversion program after pleading guilty to a reckless driving charge, receiving probation and 50 hours of community service. Douglas Duncan, the attorney who represented him in that case, is also representing him now. In February 2021, Woods was seriously injured in a single-car accident in California, sustaining multiple compound fractures in his right leg and a compound fracture in his ankle, requiring emergency surgery. He has not competed in a top-level golf tournament since the 2024 British Open, and suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in March 2025, followed by back surgery in October 2025.

Arrest affidavit details phone use, opioid pills found The Martin County Sheriff's Office released the arrest affidavit on Tuesday morning, revealing that Woods admitted to looking at his phone and changing the radio station immediately before the crash. According to the affidavit, obtained by Reuters, Deputy Tatiana Levenar reported that Woods stated he was driving from his residence and did not realize the vehicle in front of him had slowed down because he was looking at his cellphone. Woods then allegedly attempted to overtake the vehicle by crossing a double yellow line, striking the back of a trailer being towed by a pickup truck with the front right of his Land Rover, causing it to roll onto the driver's side. Two white hydrocodone pills, a prescription opioid painkiller, were found in his left pants pocket and submitted as evidence. When asked about prescription medications during the DUI investigation, Woods replied, according to the report, that he takes "a few," and that he had done so earlier that morning. He also told officers he had undergone seven back surgeries and more than 20 operations on his leg, and that his ankle seizes while walking.

Officers noted sweating, stumbling, and extreme pupil dilation Officers at the scene documented multiple signs of physical impairment in Woods during the roadside investigation. Deputy Levenar's report described Woods as "lethargic and slow" in his movements, noted that he was "sweating profusely" while seated in a vehicle with cool air flowing, and observed that his eyes were "red and glassy" with "extremely dilated" pupils. Officers also observed him "limping and stumbling to the right" while walking. Woods passed a breathalyzer test with a result of zero but refused to provide a urine sample for drug testing, which under Florida law constitutes a separate chargeable offense. The deputy concluded in the affidavit that, based on her training, Woods' normal faculties were impaired and he was unable to safely operate a motor vehicle. Woods was arrested on Friday afternoon, spent approximately eight hours in jail, and was released on bail the same night.

Woods steps away from golf, PGA Tour offers its support In his first public statement since the arrest, Woods said he understood the gravity of his situation and was committed to recovery.

„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 prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.” — Tiger Woods via The New York Times

The PGA Tour released its own statement on Tuesday evening, noting that Woods currently serves as chairman of the tour's Future Competitions Committee, working alongside chief executive Brian Rolapp to redesign the tour's schedule and structure. The tour's statement described Woods as "a legend of our sport" and said its focus was on his health and well-being. Duncan, the same Martin County-area attorney who handled the 2017 case, has 10 days to file motions. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 23, 2026, at the Martin County courthouse in Stuart, Florida.

Tiger Woods — road to the April 23 hearing: — ; — ; — ; —