Bodycam footage shows Tiger Woods telling police he spoke with ‘the President’ after a crash, leading to his DUI arrest and decision to step away from golf.
TIGER Woods informed police he was on the phone with “the President” just before his car crash in Florida. The statement was captured in body camera footage released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
The golf legend expressed surprise when deputies informed him he was under arrest. “I’m being arrested?” Woods asked as he was handcuffed.
An officer told Woods he believed his “normal faculties are impaired” by an unknown substance. This led to a charge of driving under the influence.
Police found two hydrocodone painkiller pills on Woods during the arrest. The arrest report states Woods told deputies he had taken “a few” prescription medications that day.
Woods cited a history of seven back operations and over 20 surgeries on his right leg. In the footage, he explained the crash occurred when he looked down at his phone.
“I looked down at my phone and all of a sudden, boom,” Woods said. He stated he struck a trailer that had slowed in front of him.
Woods has pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge. He also faces a charge for refusing to take a urinalysis test.
Following the incident, Woods announced he would step away from golf to seek treatment. He stated this was necessary to prioritise his well-being and recovery.
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in,” Woods said. A judge has granted him permission to leave the United States for this treatment.
The footage does not specify which president Woods referenced. Former US President Donald Trump later confirmed he spoke with Woods after the arrest.
“I have talked with Woods,” Trump told the New York Post. Trump awarded Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019 and called him a “very close friend.”
The PGA of America announced Woods will not captain the 2027 US Ryder Cup team. Major golf organisations issued statements supporting his decision to seek help.
Woods suffered severe injuries in a 2021 car crash in California. He made a celebrated return to competition at the 2022 Masters, finishing 47th.
He has not played a PGA Tour event since missing the cut at the 2024 British Open. His recent arrest has added another chapter to his complex public history.
