The golfer, who had to crawl out of the passenger door, passed a breathalyser test but refused a urinalysis test for other drugs, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.
During an interview at the scene of the crash, Woods was “sweating profusely” and his movements were “lethargic and slow”, an officer wrote in the arrest affidavit released on Tuesday.
According to the incident report, when asked if he took any prescription medication, Woods replied “I take a few”, while adding he had done so earlier in the morning.
The authorities then found two white pills, which were identified as hydrocodone – an opioid used to treat pain.
Woods told authorities he was looking down at his phone while changing radio stations and did not realise the truck in front of him had slowed down before the collision.
Woods, a 15-time major winner, was kept in jail for eight hours after the incident – the minimum allowed under state law – before being released on bail.
He was also charged with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
The report noted that Woods was observed “limping and stumbling”, adding that the American said he had had seven back surgeries and over 20 operations on his leg. Woods underwent multiple surgeries following a serious car crash in 2021.
An officer also noted that Woods was “extremely alert and talkative” and had “hiccups during the entire investigation”.
A deputy who walked Woods through a series of field sobriety tests said in the report that based on their training: “I believed that Woods’ normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle.”
Neither Woods nor the PGA Tour are yet to publicly comment on the arrest and charges.
Woods has been recovering from rupturing an Achilles tendon in March 2025 and back surgery in October.
Last week he competed in the TGL indoor league finals – his first competitive golf for more than a year – and had not ruled out playing in next month’s Masters.
He has not competed at a major since missing the cut at The Open in July 2024.
