Tiger Woods Faces Martin County DUI Case After Jupiter Island Crash

Tiger Woods pleaded not guilty Tuesday to driving under the influence charges in Martin County, hours after the Martin County Sheriff's Office released an arrest report detailing bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, opioid pills in his pocket, and a failed field sobriety test following a rollover crash on Jupiter Island last week.

The case, now drawing national scrutiny from NPR, PBS, and wire services, runs through the Martin County courthouse — and local officials will shape its outcome.

The arrest report states deputies found two white pills identified as hydrocodone, a Schedule II opioid painkiller, in Woods' pocket at the scene. Woods, 50, told deputies he had taken prescription medication earlier that morning. His movements were described as slow and lethargic. He was sweating in the back seat of an air-conditioned patrol car.

Woods told deputies he had been looking at his phone and fiddling with his radio when his Land Rover clipped a truck on a residential stretch of road posted at 30 mph. The vehicle rolled onto its side. The truck sustained approximately $5,000 in damage. Neither Woods nor the truck driver was injured.

A Breathalyzer test showed no alcohol. Woods refused a urine test — a refusal that constitutes a separate charge under Florida law. He is charged with DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

The online docket for Martin County Circuit Court shows Woods entered a written not-guilty plea and plans to waive his appearance at an April 23 arraignment hearing.

The State Attorney's Office for the 19th Judicial Circuit, which covers Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties, has not publicly stated how it intends to prosecute the case. A spokesperson for that office did not respond to a request for comment before deadline According to initial reports,. How aggressively prosecutors pursue the DUI — whether through a deferred prosecution agreement, a plea deal, or trial — will be decided here, not in Augusta or on tour.

Woods' defense attorney, Douglas Duncan, has not responded to media inquiries since the plea was entered.

During the field sobriety test, deputies noted Woods limping and wearing a compression sock on his right knee. Woods disclosed he has undergone seven back surgeries and more than 20 operations on his right leg — injuries dating to a 2021 crash that left doctors weighing amputation. That medical history is likely to be central to any defense strategy.

Hours after the not-guilty plea, Woods announced on social media that he would step away to seek treatment. "This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery," he wrote.

The announcement means Woods will miss the Masters for the second consecutive year.

This is not Woods' first such episode in Florida. In 2017, he was found asleep at the wheel in Palm Beach County with multiple drugs in his system and later entered a diversion program According to available information,.

The crash scene on Jupiter Island sits within a quiet, beachside residential corridor where speed limits and road conditions make high-speed driving conspicuous. According to available information,

Local law enforcement has not issued further public comment since releasing the arrest report.

WHAT TO DO: Martin County residents seeking public records in this case, including the full arrest report and court docket, can access them through the Martin County Clerk of Courts at martinclerk.com or by calling (772) 288-5576. Martin County Emergency Management can be reached at (772) 287-1652.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.