Tiger Woods had hydrocodone in pocket at DUI arrest, police say

Golf legend Tiger Woods had two loose hydrocodone pills in his pocket when he was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Florida last week, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by TMZ Sports, with Mr. Woods claiming his cellphone and the radio distracted him before his car rolled over.

The Friday crash occurred just before 2 p.m. near 281 South Beach Road in Jupiter Island, not far from Mr. Woods’ home, when his black Range Rover clipped the rear of a pickup truck hauling a pressure-washer trailer that had slowed to turn into a driveway. The impact sent Mr. Woods’ vehicle rolling onto its driver’s side. The truck’s driver helped pull Mr. Woods out through the passenger-side window. No injuries were reported.

According to the affidavit, deputies found the 50-year-old golfer sweating heavily despite being seated in a vehicle with cool air circulating. His movement was described as lethargic, his eyes bloodshot and glassy and his pupils extremely dilated. He appeared to show severe signs of impairment, the report states.

During a search of his person, a deputy found two white pills marked “M367” in his left pants pocket — identified as hydrocodone, a prescription opioid used to treat severe pain. When asked whether he takes any prescription medication, Mr. Woods replied only that he takes “a few” and said he had taken his medication earlier that morning. He denied consuming alcohol or any illegal substances, an assertion borne out when a breathalyzer test at the jail returned readings of 0.00 on both samples. Mr. Woods refused to submit to a urine test.

As for the cause of the crash, Mr. Woods told deputies he had been distracted by his cellphone and was adjusting the radio when he failed to notice the truck had slowed ahead of him. According to TMZ’s account of the affidavit, damage to the truck and trailer was estimated at $5,000.

Mr. Woods agreed to field sobriety tests at the scene, though he appeared to be favoring an injured leg, limping and stumbling to the right. He told deputies he has undergone seven back surgeries and more than 20 procedures on his leg. He also wore a compression sock on his right knee. The affidavit notes he had persistent hiccups throughout the investigation.

Mr. Woods was charged with DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, both misdemeanors. He was held at the Martin County Jail for the minimum eight-hour period required under Florida law and was released late Friday night. A court appearance is scheduled for later next month.

The arrest marks the second time Mr. Woods has faced a DUI charge in Florida. In 2017, police found him asleep at the wheel of his car in Jupiter, though he ultimately pleaded guilty to reckless driving rather than DUI. That incident’s toxicology report showed he tested positive for five substances, including hydrocodone. Mr. Woods later attributed that episode to an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. In 2021, he survived a serious rollover crash in Los Angeles County that left him with significant leg injuries requiring multiple surgeries.

Mr. Woods had been working toward a return to competitive golf ahead of the Masters, set for April 9-12 at Augusta National, though he had not committed to playing. Just days before the crash, he competed in the TGL indoor golf league finals with his Jupiter Links Golf Club team. His representatives have not commented on the arrest.