Tiger Woods bailed, mugshot released after car crash arrest: What has he been charged with?

Tiger Woods is once again dealing with off‑course trouble. The American golfer has been charged with driving under the influence after he was involved in a car crash early on Friday afternoon, rolling his vehicle in Jupiter Island, the ultra-exclusive enclave in Florida where he lives.

In the hours after the accident, it was revealed that the California native had tested negative on the breathalyzer administered after the incident, but he was taken into police custody after refusing to undergo a narcotics test. The 50-year-old, who has since been released on bail, now faces criminal charges for what in the United States is classified as a DUI - driving under the influence of intoxicating substances - as well as for refusing to submit to a lawful test and for property damage.

According to John Budensiek, a spokesperson for the Martin County Sheriff’s Office - the county in which Jupiter Island is located - all occupants of the vehicle escaped unharmed. The local fire department provided the same account of the incident, which occurred at around 2:00 p.m. local time.

Budensiek also explained the circumstances surrounding Woods’ arrest. When he refused the drug test, he informed officers of “injuries and surgeries that he’s had”. The most plausible hypothesis appears to be that he could have taken some form of pain medication to manage the lingering effects on a battered body.

Woods’ mugshot has been released:

Another scare after 2021 near-tragedy

This is far from the first time Woods has been involved in a serious incident behind the wheel. He was stopped and arrested for a similar situation back in 2017, his now-famous mugshot showing him visibly disoriented.

In February 2021, during the week of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, where Woods serves as tournament host, he was involved in a devastating crash in California that nearly cost him his right leg. His SUV rolled multiple times, and emergency crews had to use hydraulic tools to extract him from the wreckage.

Injuries that reshaped his career

The injuries Woods sustained in that crash, including open fractures to his right tibia and fibula, have defined the final phase of his career.

He has undergone multiple surgeries since then and has struggled to physically withstand the demands of competitive golf. Walking a full 18-hole round, which typically takes around five hours, has become a significant challenge due to ongoing pain in his leg and knee.

A comeback repeatedly stalled

In recent years, Woods’ career has been marked by persistence but limited returns.

He has completed only 30 rounds in official competition, withdrawing from three events and missing the cut six times, a stark contrast to the consistency that once defined his dominance. His latest setback comes just days after he made a competitive return following months of inactivity and further procedures, appearing in TGL, the tech-driven golf league he co-founded with Rory McIlroy.

There had been cautious optimism about Woods potentially playing in the Masters Tournament, which begins April 9 at Augusta National. That hope may now be in serious doubt following Friday’s incident on a Florida roadway.

Watch - Woods leaves Florida jail after DUI arrest:

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