Key facts
- Woods, 50, pleaded no contest to reckless driving and refusal to submit to a lawful test in Martin County Circuit Court on September 2
- Five-year driver’s license suspension, no jail time; fines totaling $2,131.44 according to court records
- March 27 crash near Jupiter Island, Florida: vehicle clipped trailer, rolled over; Woods crawled out uninjured; breathalyzer showed 0.0 alcohol, declined urine test
- Police found two hydrocodone pills in his pocket; Woods told officers he had taken several medications that morning including blood pressure/cholesterol drugs and Vicodin
- Woods initially pleaded not guilty in March, changed plea ahead of Wednesday hearing; originally charged with DUI with property damage
The plea deal and court appearance
Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to reckless driving and refusal to submit to a lawful test on Wednesday morning in Martin County Circuit Court in Florida, accepting a plea agreement that avoided jail time. The 50-year-old was adjudicated guilty of willful and wanton reckless driving as a second offense. As part of the deal, Woods’ driver’s license was suspended for five years, and he was ordered to pay fines totaling $2,131.44 in costs and fees, according to court records. He also agreed not to seek a hardship exemption during the suspension period. Judge Darren Steele told Woods that the suspension was “for the safety of the public” and stated there were “no exceptions”—if Woods were to drive for any reason, he would face immediate jail time.
Woods arrived at the courthouse with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, and did not answer reporters’ questions as he entered or left the building. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges after his March arrest but changed his plea ahead of Wednesday’s hearing.
The March crash and arrest
Woods was arrested on March 27 near his home on Jupiter Island, Florida, after a rollover crash involving his Land Rover. According to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, Woods was driving at a “high rate of speed” on a narrow two-lane road with a 30 mph speed limit when his vehicle clipped a trailer being towed by a truck. The vehicle veered off the roadway, clipped the trailer, and came to rest on its driver’s side. Woods, who was alone in the vehicle, was able to exit through the passenger door and was not injured.
Officers at the scene observed signs of impairment. A breathalyzer test showed no alcohol in his system (0.0), but Woods declined to submit to a urinalysis for drugs. In the police report, officers noted he was “sweating profusely” and had “lethargic and slow” movement. Police found two white pills identified as hydrocodone, an opioid painkiller, in his left pants pocket. When questioned by officers, Woods indicated he had taken several medications earlier that morning, including drugs for high blood pressure, cholesterol, ibuprofen, and the prescription painkiller Vicodin. Court filings also documented unusual remarks Woods made to officers, including references to “10 to 15 drones” over his home and a claim that he had just spoken to “the president,” though the documents did not specify which president.
Original charges and legal history
Woods was originally charged with two misdemeanors: driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. The plea agreement reduced these to reckless driving and refusal to submit to testing. Woods also received a concurrent five-year license suspension on a careless-driving citation. Because Woods refused the urinalysis and blood test, and his prescription drug records were not released to the public, it remains unclear what substance, if any, he may have been under the influence of at the time of the crash.
This was Woods’ second arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving after being found asleep behind the wheel of a parked vehicle in Jupiter and completed a DUI diversion program and 50 hours of community service. The March crash was his fourth known car accident since 2009. In November 2009, he was cited for careless driving after hitting a fire hydrant and tree outside his home in Windermere. In February 2021, he was seriously injured in a rollover crash in Southern California that authorities determined showed no signs of impairment.
Golf career impact
Following his arrest in March, Woods announced he was stepping away from golf indefinitely and sought treatment at an in-patient facility in Switzerland. He missed the 2025 PGA Tour season. Prior to the crash, he had been preparing for a comeback attempt after back surgery and had recently competed in the TGL Finals while considering playing in the 2026 Masters. His only involvement in professional golf during the off-season came through behind-the-scenes work on a PGA Tour committee designing the new two-series structure slated to begin in 2028.
Sources
Featured photo: The White House from Washington, DC via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)