Golf superstar Tiger Woods taken into custody, faces drunk driving count following vehicle accident in Florida

Golf legend Tiger Woods, 50, has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence, or DUI, following a single-vehicle crash in Florida on Friday afternoon, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.

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The incident occurred shortly after 2pm local time when Woods, driving a Land Rover, attempted to overtake a truck at high speed on Jupiter Island, Florida, resulting in the vehicle swerving and rolling onto its side.

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Sheriff Budensiek stated that Woods showed signs of impairment at the scene, but a breathalyser test returned negative results.

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However, Woods refused to provide a urine sample for further testing when asked, leading to charges of DUI, property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test, as explained by Sheriff Budensiek.

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Images from the scene showed the SUV lying on its side, but there has been no immediate update on Woods’ physical condition following the incident.

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This is not the first time Woods has faced legal issues related to driving, as he was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Florida in 2017 and later pleaded guilty to reckless driving.

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The latest incident comes five years after Woods suffered severe leg injuries in a high-speed rollover crash in California in February 2021, which required multiple surgeries, including treatment for an Achilles tendon rupture and back surgery.

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Despite his injury history, Woods had been working on a comeback, competing earlier this week in the TGL simulator golf league finals and not ruling out playing in next month’s Masters Tournament, where he has won five times.

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Woods, a 15-time major champion, has not played on the PGA Tour since missing the cut at the 2024 British Open.

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A press conference by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office has been scheduled for 5pm local time, or 2100 GMT, to provide further details on the case.

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Further updates on Woods’ condition and the case are expected in the coming hours, as the situation continues to unfold.