In the chaotic aftermath of a serious car crash, most people worry about their physical wellbeing. Tiger Woods, it turns out, had something else on his mind almost immediately: his golf clubs.
Newly released bodycam footage from the March 27 crash in Jupiter Island, Florida, captures an unexpectedly human moment amid the wreckage — a quiet but revealing exchange between a deputy and Woods’ manager about the irreplaceable contents of a crushed trunk, and the lengths authorities went to in order to protect them.
Woods’ 2025 Range Rover had rolled onto its driver’s side in the collision. Nearly two hours after the crash, the 15-time major champion was placed under arrest on a DUI charge. But long before that moment, his manager, Rob McNamara, had already flagged a pressing concern.
Bodycam footage captured the conversation between McNamara and a responding deputy. The exchange was direct.
“I understand,” the deputy said, after being told the clubs were critically important. “Worth more than my house.”
“The putter is worth more than all of our houses,” McNamara replied.
The deputy relayed the message to a tow truck employee on scene, noting there was “expensive s—“ in the trunk belonging to a “high-profile person” that needed careful extraction. The problem: the crash had left the trunk completely inaccessible through normal means.
The solution was straightforward if unconventional. A member of a local fire department shattered the rear windshield of the SUV, and authorities carefully slid the clubs through the opening, handing them directly to McNamara. The clubs were undamaged.
What Made the Clubs So Significant
The concern over Woods’ clubs was not simple materialism. It was rooted in history.
Woods later told law enforcement that his “sticks” were the only possession he cared about recovering — and that the putter, in particular, held exceptional significance. He credited it with helping him win 14 of his 15 major championships.
He did use a different putter for his first major victory — the 1997 Masters, which he won by a historic 12 strokes — making the current putter a companion to one of the most remarkable sustained runs in golf history.
The clubs were stored in a Monster Energy branded bag. Woods’ driver was fitted with his now-iconic tiger head cover — one of the most recognizable accessories in the sport.
A deputy who also spotted one of Woods’ Sun Day Red branded shirts in the vehicle joked that the garment alone was worth more than one of his paychecks.
The lighthearted moments surrounding the clubs existed alongside a far more serious set of circumstances.
Following the crash, deputies observed multiple signs of impairment in Woods. He was described as “lethargic,” and a field sobriety test ultimately led to his arrest. A breathalyzer returned triple-zero results for alcohol. However, Woods declined to submit a urine sample, resulting in an additional charge. Deputies later discovered two white pills in his left pants pocket, subsequently identified as hydrocodone — a prescription opioid.
Before the sobriety tests began, Woods disclosed to law enforcement that he had undergone seven back surgeries and “over 20 operations” on his leg — injuries stemming in significant part from a 2021 rollover crash that kept him off the course for an entire year. He told officers he took “a few” prescription medications.
He also told deputies he had been “hoping to” compete in the Masters Tournament.
A Statement, a Withdrawal, and a Road Ahead
That Masters appearance will not happen. In a statement released Tuesday on social media, Woods confirmed he is stepping away from competitive golf indefinitely.
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods wrote. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.”
He added that he is “committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally,” and asked for privacy for himself and his family.
The clubs — rescued from the wreckage by a broken windshield and a careful pair of hands — are presumably somewhere safe. Whether their owner will be back to use them remains the question golf is waiting to answer.