Tiger Woods Enters Not Guilty Plea Following Florida Crash
Tiger Woods, a 15-time major golf champion, has pleaded not guilty to charges related to a car accident in Florida last week.
The 50-year-old golfer was released on bail after being arrested on charges of driving under the influence following an incident on Friday in which he clipped a truck and rolled his vehicle. No injuries were reported.
According to court documents from Martin County, Woods submitted a written plea of not guilty through his legal representatives.
Details from Police Report and Arrest Affidavit
A police report released on Tuesday stated that officers found Woods with two hydrocodone pills in his pocket at the crash scene. The report described Woods as acting "lethargic and slow," "sweating profusely," and having "extremely dilated" pupils after the accident.
Woods exited the vehicle by crawling out of the passenger door. He passed a breathalyser test but refused to provide a urine sample for drug testing, as confirmed by Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.
During the on-scene interview, an officer noted Woods was "sweating profusely" and his movements were "lethargic and slow," as documented in the arrest affidavit released Tuesday.
When asked about prescription medication use, Woods responded,
"I take a few,"
adding that he had taken some earlier that morning.
Authorities identified the two white pills found as hydrocodone, an opioid pain medication.
Woods explained to officers that he was looking down at his phone while changing radio stations and did not realize the truck ahead had slowed before the collision.
Charges and Additional Observations
Woods was held in jail for eight hours following the incident, which is the minimum detention period mandated by state law, before being released on bail.
He faces charges including property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
The report also noted Woods was "limping and stumbling," and he informed authorities that he had undergone seven back surgeries and more than 20 operations on his leg. These surgeries followed a serious car crash Woods experienced in 2021.
Despite these observations, an officer described Woods as "extremely alert and talkative" and noted he had "hiccups during the entire investigation."
A deputy who administered field sobriety tests stated in the report that based on their training,
"I believed that Woods' normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle."
Current Status and Recent Activity
Neither Woods nor the PGA Tour have issued public statements regarding the arrest and charges.
Woods has been recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained in March 2025 and underwent back surgery in October.
Last week, he participated in the TGL indoor league finals, marking his first competitive golf appearance in over a year. He has not ruled out competing in the upcoming Masters tournament next month.
His last major tournament was The Open in July 2024, where he missed the cut.
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