Above all, Tiger Woods will be remembered as one of the greatest golfers ever. On the negative side, however, will be a troubling history of incidents behind the wheel that unfortunately grew one chapter longer on Friday.
The 15-time major winner was arrested and charged with DUI after a rollover crash in Florida.
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Here are all of Woods’ car-related incidents that have occurred over the years, starting with the one that infamously derailed his career.
2009: Tiger Woods goes from car crash to nine-figure divorce
The incident: In 2009, Woods was the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world, had finished in the top 10 in three of the four majors and was one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Then, seemingly overnight, his public reputation was completely flipped.
On Thanksgiving of that year, Woods’ then-wife Elin Nordegren confirmed his marital infidelity while he was napping, attacked him and chased him out of their home with a golf club. Woods got into his Cadillac Escalade, which Nordegren allegedly smashed the back window of with the club then gave chase in a golf cart.
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Woods ended up crashing into a fire hydrant, leaving him unconscious and bleeding when concerned neighbors found the couple.
The aftermath: Woods’ crash was originally reported as just a simple crash, but the salacious details would soon hit the world. Nordegren divorced Woods and received a reported $110 million settlement, while an astonishing number of mistresses emerged in the public sphere. Several sponsors ended their relationship with Woods, who apologized and entered therapy.
2017: Tiger Woods arrested for DUI after being found unconscious
The incident: Police found Woods asleep in his car, which was sitting in a traffic lane and had its engine running, near his home in Jupiter, Florida around 2 a.m. He stumbled and swayed his through a field sobriety test and told officers had Vicodin and Xanax after undergoing a fourth back surgery the previous month.
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Five drugs were later found in Woods’ system, but no alcohol.
The aftermath: Woods wound up pleading guilty to reckless driving, receiving a year of probation, a $250 fine and 50 hours of community service. He avoided any jail time.
2021: Tiger Woods nearly loses his leg in horrifying crash
The incident: Woods’ first rollover crash was far more serious than the one Friday. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said Woods was driving more than 80 mph in Ranchos Palos Verdes when he lost control of his car at a curve in the road and hit a tree.
The incident nearly cost Woods his leg. After being removed from the car via jaws of life, he was left with a compound femur fracture and a shattered ankle.
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The aftermath: Woods avoided legal repercussions despite driving dangerously, but recovery was slow for him after undergoing several surgeries. He didn’t enter a tournament for the next 14 months, making his return at the 2022 Masters.
Tiger Woods’ crash on Friday left his Land Rover on its side.
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
2026: Tiger Woods arrested after clipping truck at high speed
The incident: Friday represented Woods’ third major car crash and second DUI charge.
Martin County Sheriff’s Office told reporters Woods attempted to overtake a pickup truck with a trailer at a high rate of speed in his Land Rover. The maneuver allegedly resulted in his car clipping the truck at a high rate of speed and rolling over. Both drivers are reportedly uninjured.
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Woods is alleged to have demonstrated signs of impairment. While he blew a 0.00 on a breathalyzer test, he refused a urinalysis and was charged with a DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
The aftermath: Woods will be held by authorities for at least eight hours in accordance with Florida DUI laws. Everything after that is pretty much up to him.
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