Tiger Woods showed signs of impairment and had hydrocodone pills in his pocket when deputies interviewed him at the scene of a car crash last week in Florida, according to a
Woods’ eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his pupils were dilated and his movements were slow and lethargic, the incident report from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies also noted that Woods was sweating while speaking with them and told officers he had taken prescription medication earlier that morning.
Two white pills found in Woods’ pocket were identified as hydrocodone, an opioid commonly prescribed for pain, according to the report. When asked whether he was taking any prescription medications, Woods told a deputy, “I take a few.”
The crash occurred on a beachside residential road on Jupiter Island, where Woods was driving a Land Rover at high speeds, authorities said. According to the report, Woods told deputies he had been looking at his phone and adjusting the radio before his vehicle clipped a truck traveling in front of him. The impact caused Woods’ vehicle to roll onto its side.
The sheriff’s office said Woods showed signs of impairment at the scene. The truck sustained about $5,000 in damage, according to the report. Neither Woods nor the truck driver was injured. The driver of the truck and another person helped Woods exit his vehicle, which required him to climb out through the passenger side.
During a field sobriety test, deputies observed Woods limping and wearing a compression sock over his right knee. Woods told deputies he has undergone seven back surgeries and more than 20 operations on his legs, explaining that his ankle can seize up while walking, the report said.
Deputies also noted that Woods was hiccupping during questioning. During one of the sobriety exercises, Woods repeatedly moved his head despite instructions to keep it still, requiring deputies to correct him several times, according to the report.
“Based on my observations of Woods, how he performed the exercises and based on my training, knowledge, and experience, I believed that Woods’ normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle,” a deputy wrote in the report.
Woods agreed to submit to a Breathalyzer test, which showed no signs of alcohol in his system, authorities said. He later refused to provide a urine sample, the report said. Under a change to Florida law that took effect last year, refusing a lawful request to submit to a breath, blood or urine test is considered a misdemeanor, even for a first offense.
Woods was arrested at the scene and later released on bail after about eight hours in custody, authorities said.
The golfer is charged with driving under the influence, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. He is scheduled to be arraigned April 23, according to online court records, which do not list an attorney representing him.
Woods’ agent at Excel Sports, Mark Steinberg, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. No one from Woods’ camp or the PGA Tour has commented publicly since the arrest. Woods serves on the PGA Tour’s board and chairs a committee overseeing changes to the competition model.
Woods has been involved in several motor vehicle crashes over the years, according to authorities.
This is a developing news article. Updates to follow.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
