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Tiger Woods arrested for DUI after Florida crash involving prescription opioids

1 hours ago2 articles from 2 sources

Consensus Summary

Tiger Woods was arrested for DUI after crashing his Land Rover in Martin County, Florida, on March 27, clipping a truck and rolling onto its side. Bodycam footage shows Woods reacting in shock when handcuffed by Deputy Tatiana Levenar, who cited impaired faculties due to an unknown substance. Woods admitted to taking prescription opioids (Norco) but denied alcohol use; a breath test confirmed no alcohol, though he refused a urine test. Both sources agree on the crash details, Woods’s medical history (over 20 surgeries), and his plea of not guilty, but differ slightly on procedural timelines and additional context like his recent golf appearances. Woods announced he is stepping away from golf to seek treatment, marking a significant pause in his career amid ongoing legal proceedings.

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

Key details reported by multiple sources:

  • Tiger Woods was arrested on March 27 in Martin County, Florida, for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) after a vehicle crash on Jupiter Island
  • Woods’s Land Rover clipped a truck and rolled onto its side during the crash, with no injuries reported
  • Deputy Tatiana Levenar handcuffed Woods and told him ‘I do believe your normal faculties are impaired, and you’re under an unknown substance, so at this time you’re under arrest for DUI’
  • Woods responded to the arrest with ‘I’m being arrested?’ before Levenar confirmed ‘Yes, sir’
  • Officers found two white pills in Woods’s pocket, which he identified as Norco (hydrocodone, a prescription opioid)
  • Woods admitted to taking ‘a few medications’ earlier in the day but denied drinking alcohol; a breath test showed no alcohol
  • Woods refused a urine test and was released on bail eight hours after arrest
  • Woods pleaded not guilty to DUI and demanded a jury trial; his case is due back in court on May 5 for a readiness hearing
  • Woods has undergone seven back surgeries and over 20 surgeries on his right leg, including a ruptured Achilles tendon
  • Woods announced he is stepping away from golf ‘to seek treatment and focus on my health’

Points of Difference

Details reported by only one source:

The Guardian
  • Woods mentioned he was ‘hiccuping’ during questioning and had to be told to keep his head still during sobriety tests
  • Deputy Levenar’s arrest report explicitly states Woods ‘was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle’ based on observations and training
  • Woods appeared in the TGL indoor league he co-founded with Rory McIlroy last Tuesday (March 26) before the crash
  • Woods has not competed on the PGA Tour since July 2024 and has barely played in recent years due to injuries
ABC News
  • Florida law change in 2023 made refusing a breath/blood/urine test a misdemeanor even for first offenses
  • Woods limped during sobriety tests and wore a compression sock over his right knee
  • Woods explained his ankle would ‘seize up while walking’ due to surgeries
  • The crash occurred on a residential road on Jupiter Island, with no injuries reported

Contradictions

Conflicting information between sources:

  • The Guardian states Woods was arrested on March 27, but ABC does not specify the exact date beyond ‘last week’ (though context confirms March 27)
  • The Guardian mentions Woods’s case is due back in court on 5 May, while ABC does not mention this date
  • The Guardian notes Woods’s last PGA Tour appearance was in July 2024, but ABC does not reference this timeline
  • The Guardian highlights Woods’s appearance in the TGL indoor league on March 26, while ABC does not mention this detail
  • The Guardian explicitly states Woods ‘has barely played in recent years,’ while ABC does not include this phrasing

Source Articles

ABC

Police release body cam footage showing Tiger Woods stunned over arrest

Body camera footage shows Tiger Woods expressing astonishment as he was handcuffed after crashing his SUV last week in Florida....

GUARDIAN

Bodycam footage shows Tiger Woods’s shock after crash: ‘I’m being arrested?’

Golfer has pled not guilty to DUI charges Hydrocodone pills found in pocket after arrest Bodycam footage of Tiger Woods’s arrest for DUI shows the golfer looking surprised when he was handcuffed by po...