Tiger Woods police report: Hiccupping golf star 'looking at phone' before car crash

The police report into Tiger Woods' car crash has been released. 

The 15-time major champion was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence last Friday after rolling his car in a crash near his home in Jupiter Island, Florida.  

Woods, 50, had to crawl out of the passenger door after the "high-speed" collision. No-one was injured. 

However, the Martin County Sheriff's Office said Woods "showed signs of impairment". 

He was arrested at the scene and kept in jail away from the general population for eight hours.

Woods has been charged with driving under the influence, property damage and refusal to submit a test.

The latter charge was because Woods - who passed a breathalyser - refused to give a urine test.

West Palm Beach TV were the first to obtain the police report on Tuesday. 

According to the publication, the police report states:

• The incident occurred around 2pm when Woods was driving behind a truck with a trailer
• When the trailer slowed, Woods attempted to pass
• The right side of his SUV clipped the fender of the trailer, flipping the Land Rover on its side
• Woods told the responding deputy that he had looked down at his phone before the incident, not realising it had slowed down
• He was changing radio station
• The driver of the trailer said he was slowing to make a right turn into a driveway with his turn signal on
• The damage to the trailer was estimated at $5,000
• Woods was helped out of his vehicle by the driver of the trailer
• The deputy observed "several signs of impairment"
• Woods had hiccups throughout the conversation
• Woods was wearing a compression sock on his right leg and appeared to limp and stumble during a field sobriety test
• He told the deputy that he's had seven back surgeries and 20 operations on his leg and his ankle seizes while walking
• The deputy noted Woods' eyes were "bloodshot and glassy" with dilated pupils
• Woods was also "sweating profusely" and appeared "lethargic and slow"
• Woods said he had not consumed any alcohol but answered "I take a few" when asked if he takes prescription medication
• Deputies found two pills of hydrocodone in Woods' pocket
• Woods was formally arrested just after 3pm

What we know about Tiger Woods' car crash

Sheriff John Budensiek said the crash happened in Beach Road at around 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT). 

He said investigators at the scene were not suspicious of alcohol but claimed Woods exemplified "signs of impairment". 

"They did several tests on him," Budensiek said. 

He did explain the injuries and surgeries that he's had and we did take that into account, but they did some in-depth roadside tests."

Budensiak added that Woods was "co-operative" but was "trying not to incriminate himself". 

Woods refused a urine test. "He has a right to refuse that test," Budensiek said.

"There is a statute which he will be charged with for refusing to take that test, but we will never get definitive results as to what he was impaired on at the time of the crash."

What has Tiger Woods been charged with?

Driving under the influence, property damage and refusal to submit a lawful test.

The charges against Woods are misdemeanours, not felonies.

How many car crashes has Tiger Woods had?

This is the latest incident involving Woods behind the wheel. 

Outside his home in 2009, he hit a fire hydrant, a tree and several hedges. 

The incident is believed to have occurred after his ex-wife Elin Nordegren learned of his extramarital affairs. 

Woods and Nordegren divorced in 2010. 

In 2017, police officers found Woods asleep at the wheel of his parked Mercedez-Benz. 

Again, Woods was not far from his Florida home. A toxicology report found he had several legal medications in his system, as well as marijuana's active ingredient. 

Woods was sentenced to a year's probation after admitting to a lesser charge of reckless driving. 

In February 2021, Woods crashed again in Los Angeles. He sustained severe injuries to his right leg and doctors considered amputation. 

Woods made a return to major championship golf 14 months later at the 2022 Masters. 

But he has been reduced to a limited schedule since. 

Woods ruptured his Achilles tendon last march and had further back surgery in October. 

He competed in the simulator golf league, TGL, earlier in the month and had spoken of his desire to play in next week's Masters Tournament. 

Will Tiger Woods play in The Masters?

Woods participated in the TGL finals last Tuesday. 

There, he spoke of his desire to play in the 2026 Masters Tournament. 

But he indicated that he was losing the fitness battle. 

"[My body] doesn't recover like it did when it was 24, 25," Woods said.  

"It doesn't mean I'm not trying. I've been trying for a while. I want to play.

"I love the tournament. I've loved being there since I was 19 years old. It's meant a lot to me and my family over the years.

"I don't know [if I'll play]. We'll see how it goes. I'll be practising, playing at home this week and keep trying to make progress."

As of 31 March, the five-time Masters champion is still listed in the field.